Display apparatus including a vibration device

ABSTRACT

A display apparatus includes a display panel configured to display an image, and a vibration device on a rear surface of the display panel to vibrate the display panel to generate a sound, the vibration device including a vibration array including a plurality of vibration modules.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of and priority to Korean PatentApplication No. 10-2020-0027267 filed on Mar. 4, 2020, the entirety ofwhich is hereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to a display apparatus.

Discussion of the Related Art

In display apparatuses, a display panel displays an image, and aseparate speaker should be installed for providing a sound. When aspeaker is in a display apparatus, the speaker occupies a space; due tothis, the design and spatial disposition of the display apparatus arelimited.

A speaker applied to display apparatuses may be, for example, anactuator, including a magnet and a coil. However, when the actuator isapplied to the display apparatuses, a thickness thereof is large.Piezoelectric elements that enable thinness to be implemented areattracting much attention.

Because the piezoelectric elements are fragile, the piezoelectricelements are easily damaged by an external impact, and thus thereliability of sound reproduction is low. Also, when a speaker such as apiezoelectric element is applied to a flexible display apparatus, thereis a problem where damage occurs due to a fragile characteristic.

SUMMARY

The inventors have recognized problems described above and haveperformed various experiments for implementing a vibration device forenhancing the quality of a sound and a sound pressure characteristic.Therefore, through the various experiments, the inventors have inventeda display apparatus having a new structure, which includes a vibrationdevice for enhancing the quality of a sound and a sound pressurecharacteristic.

Accordingly, embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to adisplay apparatus that substantially obviates one or more problems dueto limitations and disadvantages of the related art.

An aspect of the present disclosure is to provide a display apparatusincluding a vibration device, which is disposed on a rear surface of adisplay panel and vibrates the display panel to generate a sound,thereby enhancing a sound pressure characteristic.

Additional features and aspects will be set forth in part in thedescription that follows, and in part will become apparent from thedescription, or may be learned by practice of the inventive conceptsprovided herein. Other features and aspects of the inventive conceptsmay be realized and attained by the structure particularly pointed outin the written description, or derivable therefrom, and the claimshereof as well as the appended drawings.

To achieve these and other aspects of the inventive concepts, asembodied and broadly described herein, a display apparatus comprises adisplay panel configured to display an image, and a vibration device ona rear surface of the display panel to vibrate the display panel togenerate a sound, the vibration device including a vibration arrayincluding a plurality of vibration modules.

In another aspect of the present disclosure, a display apparatuscomprises a display panel configured to display an image and including afirst region and a second region, a first vibration array in the firstregion, the first vibration array including a plurality of firstvibration modules, and a second vibration array in the second region,the second vibration array including a plurality of second vibrationmodules.

It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description andthe following detailed description of the present disclosure areexemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide furtherexplanation of the inventive concepts as claimed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a furtherunderstanding of the disclosure and are incorporated in and constitute apart of this application, illustrate embodiments of the disclosure andtogether with the description serve to explain principles of thedisclosure.

FIG. 1 illustrates a display apparatus according to an embodiment of thepresent disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line I-I′ illustrated inFIG. 1 .

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a vibration device according to anembodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 4 illustrates a piezoelectric composite according to an embodimentof the present disclosure.

FIG. 5A illustrates a state where both ends of the piezoelectriccomposite of FIG. 4 is upward folded.

FIG. 5B illustrates a state where the both ends of the piezoelectriccomposite of FIG. 4 is downward folded.

FIG. 6 illustrates a piezoelectric composite according to anotherembodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 7 illustrates a piezoelectric composite according to anotherembodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 8 illustrates a piezoelectric composite according to anotherembodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 9 illustrates a state where both ends of the piezoelectriccomposite of FIG. 8 is downward folded.

FIG. 10 illustrates a piezoelectric composite according to anotherembodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 11 illustrates a piezoelectric composite according to anotherembodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 12 illustrates another embodiment of the piezoelectric compositeillustrated in FIG. 11 .

FIG. 13 illustrates a display apparatus according to another embodimentof the present disclosure.

FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view taken along line II-II′ illustrated inFIG. 13 .

FIG. 15 illustrates a display apparatus including a vibration deviceaccording to another embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIGS. 16A and 16B illustrate a display apparatus including a vibrationdevice according to another embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIGS. 17A and 17B illustrate a display apparatus including a vibrationdevice according to another embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 17C is a cross-sectional view taken along line illustrated in FIG.17A.

FIGS. 18A and 18B illustrate a display apparatus including a vibrationdevice according to another embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIGS. 19A and 19B illustrate a display apparatus including a vibrationdevice according to another embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIGS. 20A and 20B illustrate a display apparatus including a vibrationdevice according to another embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIGS. 21A and 21B illustrate a display apparatus including a vibrationdevice according to another embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 22 illustrates a display apparatus according to another embodimentof the present disclosure.

FIG. 23 illustrates a display apparatus according to another embodimentof the present disclosure.

FIG. 24 illustrates a sound output characteristic of a display apparatusaccording to another embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 25 illustrates a sound output characteristic of a display apparatusaccording to another embodiment of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments of the presentdisclosure, examples of which may be illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings.

Advantages and features of the present disclosure, and implementationmethods thereof will be clarified through following embodimentsdescribed with reference to the accompanying drawings. The presentdisclosure may, however, be embodied in different forms and should notbe construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather,these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thoroughand complete, and will fully convey the scope of the present disclosureto those skilled in the art. Furthermore, the present disclosure is onlydefined by scopes of claims.

Throughout the drawings and the detailed description, unless otherwisedescribed, the same drawing reference numerals should be understood torefer to the same elements, features, and structures. The relative sizeand depiction of these elements may be exaggerated for clarity,illustration, and convenience. The progression of processing stepsand/or operations described is an example; however, the sequence ofsteps and/or operations is not limited to that set forth herein and maybe changed as is known in the art, with the exception of steps and/oroperations necessarily occurring in a particular order. Like referencenumerals designate like elements throughout. Names of the respectiveelements used in the following explanations are selected only forconvenience of writing the specification and may be thus different fromthose used in actual products.

A shape, a size, a ratio, an angle, and a number disclosed in thedrawings for describing embodiments of the present disclosure are merelyan example, and thus, the present disclosure is not limited to theillustrated details. Like reference numerals refer to like elementsthroughout. In the following description, when the detailed descriptionof the relevant known function or configuration is determined tounnecessarily obscure the important point of the present disclosure, thedetailed description will be omitted.

When “comprise,” “have,” and “include” described in the presentspecification are used, another part may be added unless “only” is used.The terms of a singular form may include plural forms unless referred tothe contrary.

In construing an element, the element is construed as including an erroror tolerance range although there is no explicit description of such anerror or tolerance range.

In describing a position relationship, for example, when a positionrelation between two parts is described as, for example, “on,” “over,”“under,” and “next,” one or more other parts may be disposed between thetwo parts unless a more limiting term, such as “just” or “direct(ly)” isused. In describing a time relationship, for example, when the temporalorder is described as, for example, “after,” “subsequent,” “next,” and“before,” a case that is not continuous may be included unless a morelimiting term, such as “just,” “immediate(ly),” or “direct(ly)” is used.

It will be understood that, although the terms “first,” “second,” etc.may be used herein to describe various elements, these elements shouldnot be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguishone element from another. For example, a first element could be termed asecond element, and, similarly, a second element could be termed a firstelement, without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.

In describing elements of the present disclosure, the terms “first,”“second,” “A,” “B,” “(a),” “(b),” etc. may be used. These terms areintended to identify the corresponding elements from the other elements,and basis, order, or number of the corresponding elements should notlimited by these terms.

The expression that an element is “connected,” “coupled,” or “adhered”to another element or layer the element or layer can not only bedirectly connected or adhered to another element or layer, but also beindirectly connected or adhered to another element or layer with one ormore intervening elements or layers “disposed,” or “interposed” betweenthe elements or layers, unless otherwise specified.

The term “at least one” should be understood as including any and allcombinations of one or more of the associated listed items. For example,the meaning of “at least one of a first item, a second item, and a thirditem” denotes the combination of all items proposed from two or more ofthe first item, the second item, and the third item as well as the firstitem, the second item, or the third item.

In the description of embodiments, when a structure is described asbeing positioned “on or above” or “under or below” another structure,this description should be construed as including a case in which thestructures contact each other as well as a case in which a thirdstructure is disposed therebetween. The size and thickness of eachelement shown in the drawings are given merely for the convenience ofdescription, and embodiments of the present disclosure are not limitedthereto, unless otherwise specified.

In the present disclosure, examples of a display apparatus may include anarrow-sense display apparatus such as an organic light emitting display(OLED) module or a liquid crystal module (LCM) including a display paneland a driver for driving the display panel. Also, examples of thedisplay apparatus may include a set device (or a set apparatus) or a setelectronic apparatus such as a notebook computer, a TV, a computermonitor, an equipment apparatus including an automotive apparatus oranother type apparatus for vehicles, or a mobile electronic device suchas a smartphone or an electronic pad, which is a complete product (or afinal product) including an LCM or an OLED module.

Therefore, in the present disclosure, examples of the display apparatusmay include a narrow-sense display apparatus itself, such as an LCM oran OLED module, and a set device which is a final consumer device or anapplication product including the LCM or the OLED module.

In some embodiments, an LCM or an OLED module including a display paneland a driver may be referred to as a narrow-sense display apparatus, andan electronic apparatus which is a final product including an LCM or anOLED module may be referred to as a set apparatus. For example, thenarrow-sense display apparatus may include a display panel, such as anLCD or an OLED, and a source printed circuit board (PCB) which is acontroller for driving the display panel. The set apparatus may furtherinclude a set PCB which is a set controller electrically connected tothe source PCB to overall control the set apparatus.

A display panel applied to the present embodiment may use all types ofdisplay panels such as a liquid crystal display panel, an organic lightemitting diode (OLED) display panel, and an electroluminescent displaypanel, but is not limited to a specific display panel, which is vibratedby a sound generation device according to the present embodiment tooutput a sound. Also, a shape or a size of a display panel applied to adisplay apparatus according to the present embodiment is not limited.

For example, if the display panel is the liquid crystal display panel,the display panel may include a plurality of gate lines, a plurality ofdata lines, and a plurality of pixels respectively provided in aplurality of pixel areas defined by intersections of the gate lines andthe data lines. Also, the display panel may include an array substrateincluding a thin film transistor (TFT) which is a switching element foradjusting a light transmittance of each of the plurality of pixels, anupper substrate including a color filter and/or a black matrix, and aliquid crystal layer between the array substrate and the uppersubstrate.

Moreover, if the display panel is the organic light emitting displaypanel, the display panel may include a plurality of gate lines, aplurality of data lines, and a plurality of pixels respectively providedin a plurality of pixel areas defined by intersections of the gate linesand the data lines. Also, the display panel may include an arraysubstrate including a TFT which is an element for selectively applying avoltage to each of the pixels, an organic light emitting device layer onthe array substrate, and an encapsulation substrate disposed on thearray substrate to cover the organic light emitting device layer. Theencapsulation substrate may protect the TFT and the organic lightemitting device layer from an external impact and may prevent water oroxygen from penetrating into the organic light emitting device layer.Also, a layer provided on the array substrate may include an inorganiclight emitting layer (for example, a nano-sized material layer, aquantum dot, or the like). As another example, the layer provided on thearray substrate may include a micro light emitting diode.

Moreover, if the display panel is the organic light emitting displaypanel, the display panel may include a plurality of gate lines, aplurality of data lines, and a plurality of pixels respectively providedin a plurality of pixel areas defined by intersections of the gate linesand the data lines. Also, the display panel may include an arraysubstrate including a TFT which is an element for selectively applying avoltage to each of the pixels, an organic light emitting device layer onthe array substrate, and an encapsulation substrate disposed on thearray substrate to cover the organic light emitting device layer. Theencapsulation substrate may protect the TFT and the organic lightemitting device layer from an external impact and may prevent water oroxygen from penetrating into the organic light emitting device layer.Also, a layer provided on the array substrate may include an inorganiclight emitting layer (for example, a nano-sized material layer, aquantum dot light emitting layer, or the like). As another example, thelayer provided on the array substrate may include a micro light emittingdiode.

The display panel may further include a backing such as a metal plateattached on the display panel. However, the present embodiment is notlimited to the metal plate, and the display panel may include anotherstructure.

Features of various embodiments of the present disclosure may bepartially or overall coupled to or combined with each other, and may bevariously inter-operated with each other and driven technically as thoseskilled in the art can sufficiently understand. The embodiments of thepresent disclosure may be carried out independently from each other, ormay be carried out together in co-dependent relationship.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described indetail with reference to the accompanying drawings. For convenience ofdescription, a scale of each of elements illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings differs from a real scale, and thus, is not limited to a scaleillustrated in the drawings.

In a case where a speaker is provided in a display apparatus so as torealize a sound in the display apparatus, the speaker may be implementedas a film type, and thus, a thickness of the display apparatus may bethin. A film-type vibration module may be manufactured to have a largearea, and may be applied to a display apparatus having a large area.However, because the film type vibration module is low in apiezoelectric characteristic, it may be difficult to apply the film-typevibration module to a large area due to a low vibration. When ceramic isused for enhancing a piezoelectric characteristic, the film typevibration module may weak in durability, and a size of ceramic may belimited. When a vibration module including a piezoelectric compositeincluding piezoelectric ceramic is applied to a display apparatus,because the piezoelectric composite vibrates in a horizontal directionwith respect to a left-right direction (for example, a horizontaldirection with respect to a left-right direction of the displayapparatus), it may unable to sufficiently vibrate the display apparatusin a vertical (or front-to-rear) direction. Thus, it may difficult toapply the vibration module to the display apparatus, and it may unableto output a desired sound to a forward region in front of the displayapparatus.

In a case where a film type piezoelectric element is applied to adisplay apparatus, there may be a problem where a sound pressurecharacteristic is lower than that of a speaker such as an exciter. In acase where a stack type piezoelectric element where a plurality of filmtype piezoelectric elements are stacked as a plurality of layers isapplied to a display apparatus, power consumption may increase, and athickness of the display apparatus may be thickened. Also, when onevibration device is disposed on a rear surface of a display panel (forexample, a rear surface of a mobile display apparatus), a mono sound maybe output, but the inventors have recognized a problem where it isdifficult to output a stereo sound. Therefore, a vibration device may befurther disposed at an edge (or a periphery) of a display panel so as toimplement a stereo sound, but the inventors have recognized a problemwhere it is difficult to place an exciter in a flexible displayapparatus where a curved portion is provided in a display panel, andwhen a speaker including piezoelectric ceramic is provided, thepiezoelectric ceramic is breakable.

Therefore, the inventors have performed various experiments forimplementing a vibration device which may realize a stereo soundcharacteristic, may be applied to a flexible display apparatus, and mayvibrate in a vertical direction with respect to a widthwise direction ofthe display panel. Through the various experiments, the inventors haveinvented a display apparatus including a vibration device having a newstructure, which may realize a stereo sound characteristic and may beapplied to a flexible display apparatus. This will be described below indetail.

FIG. 1 illustrates a display apparatus according to an embodiment of thepresent disclosure. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along lineI-I′ illustrated in FIG. 1 .

With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2 , a display apparatus according to anembodiment of the present disclosure may include a display panel 100 anda vibration device 200 on a rear surface of the display panel 100. A“rear surface” may denote a surface of the display panel opposite to afront surface of the display panel including the display area fordisplaying an image.

The display panel 100 may display an electronic image or a digitalimage. For example, the display panel 100 may output light to display animage. The display panel 100 may be a curved display panel, or may beany type of display panel, such as a liquid crystal display panel, anorganic light-emitting display panel, a quantum dot light-emittingdisplay panel, a micro light-emitting diode display panel, and anelectrophoresis display panel. The display panel 100 may be a flexibledisplay panel. For example, a flexible light emitting display panel, aflexible electrophoretic display panel, a flexible electro-wettingdisplay panel, a flexible micro light emitting diode display panel, or aflexible quantum dot light emitting display panel, but embodiments ofthe present disclosure are not limited thereto.

The display panel 100 according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure may include a display area AA (or an active area) fordisplaying an image according to driving of the plurality of pixels, anda non-display area IA (or an inactive area) surrounding the display areaAA.

The display panel 100 according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure may include a pixel array layer (or a display unit)configured to include an anode electrode, a cathode electrode, and anorganic compound layer. The display panel 100 may be configured todisplay an image in a type such as a top emission type, a bottomemission type, or a dual emission type, based on a structure of thepixel array layer. For example, in the top emission type, an image maybe displayed by outputting visible light generated from the pixel arraylayer to the forward region in front of a base substrate of the displaypanel 100. In the bottom emission type, an image may be displayed byoutputting visible light generated from the pixel array layer to thebackward region in rear of a base substrate of the display panel 100.

The display panel 100 according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure may include a pixel array part disposed in a pixel areaconfigured by a plurality of gate lines and/or a plurality of datalines. The pixel array part may include a plurality of pixels whichdisplay an image on the basis of a signal supplied to each of signallines. The signal lines may include a gate line, a data line, and apixel driving power line.

Each of the plurality of pixels may include a pixel circuit layerincluding a driving thin film transistor (TFT) provided in the pixelarea, an anode electrode electrically connected to the driving TFT, alight emitting device layer formed on the anode electrode, and a cathodeelectrode electrically connected to the light emitting device layer.

The driving TFT may be provided in a transistor region of each pixelarea disposed on a substrate. The driving TFT may include a gateelectrode, a gate insulation layer, a semiconductor layer, a sourceelectrode, and a drain electrode. The semiconductor layer of the drivingTFT may include silicon such as amorphous-silicon (a-Si), polysilicon(poly-Si), or low temperature poly-Si or may include oxide such asindium-gallium-zinc-oxide (IGZO), but is not limited thereto.

The anode electrode may be provided in an opening region disposed ineach pixel area and may be electrically connected to the driving TFT.

The light emitting device layer according to an embodiment of thepresent disclosure may include an organic light emitting device formedon the anode electrode. The organic light emitting device may beimplemented so that each pixel emits light of the same color (forexample, white light), or may be implemented so that pixels emit lightsof different colors (for example, red light, green light, and bluelight).

According to another embodiment of the present disclosure, the lightemitting device layer may include a micro light emitting diode (or amicro light emitting diode device) electrically connected to each of ananode electrode and a cathode electrode. The micro light emitting diodemay be a light emitting diode implemented as an integrated circuit (IC)or chip type and may include a first terminal electrically connected tothe anode electrode and a second terminal electrically connected to thecathode electrode. The cathode electrode may be connected to a lightemitting device of a light emitting device layer provided in each pixelarea in common.

An encapsulation part may be formed on the substrate to surround thepixel array part, thereby preventing oxygen or water from penetratinginto the light emitting device layer of the pixel array part. Theencapsulation part according to an embodiment of the present disclosuremay be formed in a multi-layer structure where an organic material layerand an inorganic material layer are alternately stacked, but is notlimited thereto. The inorganic material layer may prevent oxygen orwater from penetrating into the light emitting device layer of the pixelarray part. The organic material layer may be formed to have a thicknesswhich is relatively thicker than the inorganic material layer, so as tocover particles occurring in a manufacturing process. For example, theencapsulation part may include a first inorganic layer, an organic layeron the first inorganic layer, and a second inorganic layer on theorganic layer. The organic layer may be a particle cover layer. Thetouch panel may be disposed on the encapsulation part, or may bedisposed on a rear surface of the pixel array part.

The display panel 100 according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure may include an upper substrate, a lower substrate, and aliquid crystal layer.

The upper substrate may be a first substrate or a thin film transistor(TFT) array substrate and may include a pixel array (or a display partor a display area) including a plurality of pixels which arerespectively provided in a plurality of pixel areas defined byintersections between a plurality of gate lines and/or a plurality ofdata lines. Each of the plurality of pixels may include a TFT connectedto a gate line and/or a data line, a pixel electrode connected to theTFT, and a common electrode which is provided adjacent to the pixelelectrode and is supplied with a common voltage.

The upper substrate may further include a pad part provided at a firstedge (or a first periphery or a first non-display part) thereof and agate driving circuit provided at a second edge (or a second periphery ora second non-display part) thereof.

The pad part may transfer a signal, supplied from the outside, to thepixel array and/or the gate driving circuit. For example, the pad partmay include a plurality of data pads connected to a plurality of datalines through a plurality of data link lines and/or a plurality of gateinput pads connected to the gate driving circuit through a gate controlsignal line. For example, a size of the upper substrate may be greaterthan that of the lower substrate, but embodiments of the presentdisclosure are not limited thereto.

The gate driving circuit according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure may be embedded (or integrated) into a second edge of theupper substrate and may be connected to the plurality of gate lines. Forexample, the gate driving circuit may be implemented with a shiftregister including a transistor, which is formed through the sameprocess as the TFT provided in the pixel area. According to anotherembodiment of the present disclosure, the gate driving circuit may beimplemented as an integrated circuit (IC) and may be provided in a paneldriving circuit, without being embedded into the upper substrate.

The lower substrate may be a second substrate or a color filter arraysubstrate and may include a pixel pattern, including an opening areaoverlapping with the pixel area formed in the upper substrate, and acolor filter layer formed in the opening area. The lower substrate mayhave a size which is less than that of the upper substrate, butembodiments of the present disclosure are not limited thereto. Forexample, the lower substrate may overlap a portion, other than the firstedge, of the upper substrate. The lower substrate may be bonded to aportion, other than the first edge, of the upper substrate with a liquidcrystal layer therebetween using a sealant.

The liquid crystal layer may be interposed between the upper substrateand the lower substrate and may include a liquid crystal includingliquid crystal molecules where an alignment direction thereof is changedbased on an electric field generated by the common voltage and a datavoltage applied to a pixel electrode for each pixel.

A lower polarization member may be attached on a lower surface of thelower substrate and may polarize light which is incident from thebacklight and travels to the liquid crystal layer. An upper polarizationmember may be attached on an upper surface of the upper substrate andmay polarize light which passes through the upper substrate and isoutput to the outside.

The display panel 100 according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure may drive the liquid crystal layer based on an electric fieldwhich is generated in each pixel by the data voltage and the commonvoltage applied to each pixel, and thus, may display an image based onlight passing through the liquid crystal layer.

According to another embodiment of the present disclosure, in thedisplay panel 100, the upper substrate may be implemented as the colorfilter array substrate, and the lower substrate may be implemented asthe TFT array substrate. For example, the display panel 100 according toanother embodiment of the present disclosure may have a type where anupper portion and a lower portion of the display panel 100 according toan embodiment of the present disclosure are reversed therebetween. Forexample, a pad part of the display panel 100 according to anotherembodiment of the present disclosure may be covered by a separatemechanism or structure.

The display panel 100 according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure may include a bending portion that may be bent or curved tohave a curved shape or a certain curvature radius.

The bending portion of the display panel 100 may be in at least one ofone edge (or periphery) and the other edge (or periphery) of the displaypanel 100, which are parallel to each other. The one edge and/or theother edge, where the bending portion is implemented, of the displaypanel 100 may include only the non-display area IA, or may include anedge or a periphery of the display area AA and the non-display area IA.For example, the display panel 100 including the bending portionimplemented by bending of the non-display area IA may have a one-sidebezel bending structure or a both-side bezel bending structure. Also,the display panel 100 including the bending portion implemented bybending of the edge or the periphery of the display area AA and thenon-display area IA may have a one-side active bending structure or aboth-side active bending structure.

The display apparatus according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure may further include a supporting member 300 disposed a rearsurface of the display panel 100 and a panel connection member 400disposed between the display panel 100 and the supporting member 300.

The supporting member 300 may be referred to, for example, as a coverbottom, a plate bottom, a back cover, a base frame, a metal frame, ametal chassis, a chassis base, or an m-chassis. Therefore, thesupporting member 300 may be a supporter that supports the display panel100, and may be implemented as a frame or a plate structure of anarbitrary type, on a rear surface of the display apparatus.

The supporting member 300 according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure may cover a rear surface of the display panel 100. Forexample, the supporting member 300 may cover a whole rear surface of thedisplay panel 100 with a gap space GS therebetween. For example, thesupporting member 300 may include at least one of a glass material, ametal material, and a plastic material. For example, an edge or a sharpcorner of the supporting member 300 may have an inclined shape or acurved shape, e.g., through a chamfer process or a corner roundingprocess. For example, the supporting member 300 of the glass materialmay be sapphire glass. As another example, the supporting member 300 ofthe metal material may include one or more of aluminum (Al), an Alalloy, a magnesium (Mg), a Mg alloy, and an iron (Fe)-nickel (Ni) alloy.

The supporting member 300 according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure may additionally cover a side surface of the display panel100. For example, the supporting member 300 may include a rear part 310that covers the rear surface of the display panel 100 with the gap spaceGS therebetween, and a side part 330 connected to an end of the rearpart 310 and covering the side surface of the display panel 100.However, the embodiments of the present disclosure are not limitedthereto. For example, the rear part 310 and the side part 330 of thesupporting member 300 may be integrated as one body.

The side part 330 may be implemented as a separated middle frame coupledor connected to the rear part 310. For example, the side part 330implemented as the middle frame may cover the supporting member 300, andfor example, may cover all of a side surface of the rear part 310 andthe side surface of the display panel 100. For example, the side part330 implemented as the middle frame may include a material that is thesame as or different from that of the supporting member 300.

The supporting member 300 according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure may be coupled or connected to a rear edge (or a rearperiphery) of the display panel 100 using a panel connection member 400.For example, the panel connection member 400 may be disposed between therear edge of the display panel 100 and an edge (or a periphery) of thesupporting member 300, and may attach the display panel 100 to thesupporting member 300. The panel connection member 400 according to anembodiment of the present disclosure may be implemented with adouble-sided tape, a single-sided tape, or a double-sided adhesive foampad, but embodiments of the present disclosure are not limited thereto.

The display apparatus according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure may further include a front member 350 that covers thenon-display area IA of the display panel 100. The front member 350 mayhave a frame shape that may include an opening overlapping the displayarea AA of the display panel 100. For example, the front member 350 maybe coupled or connected to the rear part 310 of the supporting member300 or the middle frame, and may cover the non-display area IA of thedisplay panel 100, thereby supporting or fixing the display panel 100.The front member 350 may be in a front edge (or a front periphery) ofthe display panel 100, and may be directly exposed (visible) to a user(or a viewer). Thus, an aesthetic design appearance of the displayapparatus may be reduced, and a bezel width of the display apparatus mayincrease. To solve such a problem, according to an embodiment of thepresent disclosure, the display panel 100 may be coupled or connected tothe supporting member 300 by the panel connection member 400. Thus, thefront member 350 may be omitted (or removed), thereby decreasing thebezel width of the display apparatus and enhancing the aesthetic designappearance of the display apparatus.

The vibration device 200 may be on the rear surface (or a back surface)of the display panel 100. The vibration device 200 may be attached tothe rear surface of the display panel 100 by an adhesive member 150.

The adhesive member 150 according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure may be between the rear surface of the display panel 100 andthe vibration device 200. For example, the adhesive member 150 mayattach the vibration device 200 to the rear surface of the display panel100, and may be an adhesive or a double-sided adhesive tape, includingan adhesive layer that has a good adhesive force or attaching force. Forexample, the adhesive layer of the adhesive member 150 may include oneor more of epoxy, acryl, silicone, or urethane, but embodiments are notlimited thereto. The adhesive layer of the adhesive member 150 mayfurther include an additive, such as a tackifier or an adhesionenhancing agent, a wax component, or an anti-oxidation agent. Theadditive may prevent or reduce the adhesive member 150 from beingdetached (stripped) from the display panel 100 by a vibration of thevibration device 200. For example, the tackifier may be rosin derivativeor the like, the wax component may be paraffin wax or the like, and theanti-oxidation agent may be a phenol-based anti-oxidation agent, such asthioester. However, embodiments of the present disclosure are notlimited thereto.

According to another example of the present disclosure, the adhesivemember 150 may further include a hollow portion between the displaypanel 100 and the vibration device 200. The hollow portion of theadhesive member 150 may provide an air gap between the display panel 100and the vibration device 200. Due to the air gap, a sound wave (or asound pressure) based on a vibration of the vibration device 200 may notbe dispersed by the adhesive member 150, and may concentrate on thedisplay panel 100. Thus, the loss of a vibration caused by the adhesivemember 150 may be minimized or reduced, thereby increasing a soundpressure characteristic of a sound generated based on a vibration of thedisplay panel 100.

The vibration device 200 according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure may be implemented as a film type. The vibration device 200may have a thickness that is thinner than that of the display panel 100.Thus, a thickness of the display panel 100 may not increase, despite thepresence of the vibration device 200. The vibration device 200 may bereferred to as, for example, a “sound generating module,” a “soundgenerating device,” a “film actuator,” a “film-type piezoelectriccomposite actuator,” a “film speaker,” a “film-type piezoelectricspeaker,” or a “film-type piezoelectric composite speaker” that eachuses the display panel 100 as a vibration plate, but the term is notlimited thereto.

To secure a piezoelectric characteristic, the vibration device 200 mayinclude a piezoelectric ceramic. To improve an impact resistance ofpiezoelectric ceramic and realize flexibility, the vibration device 200may include a material, such as a polymer, in a piezoelectric ceramic.

The vibration device 200 according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure may include a plurality of first portions 210 and a pluralityof second portions 220.

The plurality of first portions 210 according to an embodiment of thepresent disclosure may each be configured as an inorganic materialportion. The inorganic material portion may include an inflexiblematerial. The inorganic material portion may include an electroactivematerial. The electroactive material may have a characteristic in which,when pressure or twisting (or bending) is applied to a crystallinestructure by an external force, a potential difference occurs due todielectric polarization caused by a relative position change of apositive (+) ion and a negative (−) ion, and a vibration is generated byan electric field based on a reverse voltage applied thereto.

Each of the plurality of second portions 220 may be disposed between theplurality of first portions 210. Each of the plurality of secondportions 220 may alternate between pairs of the plurality of firstportions 210. The plurality of first portions 210 and the plurality ofsecond portions 220 may be disposed (or arranged) on the same plane (orthe same layer) in parallel. Each of the plurality of second portions220 may be configured to fill a gap or a space between two adjacentfirst portions of the plurality of first portions 210, and may beconnected to or attached to a first portion 210 adjacent thereto.Therefore, in the vibration device 200, vibration energy based on a linkin a unit lattice of each first portion 210 may increase by acorresponding second portion 220. Thus, a vibration may increase, and apiezoelectric characteristic and flexibility may be secured.

Also, a second portion 220 and a first portion 210 may be alternatelyarranged on the same plane in a lengthwise direction (first direction X)with respect to one side, and thus, the vibration device 200 mayconfigure a large-area composite film (or an organic/inorganic compositefilm) having a single-layer structure. Accordingly, a thickness may bereduced compared to a piezoelectric speaker where a plurality of layersare stacked, and power consumption may decrease. Also, the large-areacomposite film may have flexibility by using a plurality of secondportions 220.

Each of the plurality of second portions 220 according to an embodimentof the present disclosure may be configured as an organic materialportion, and may fill a space between the inorganic material portions,which are the first portions 210. Each of the organic material portionsmay include a flexible material. Each of the organic material portionsmay be between the plurality of inorganic material portions, may absorban impact or shock applied to the inorganic material portions (or thefirst portions), may release a stress concentrating on the inorganicmaterial portion to enhance the total durability of the vibration device200, and may provide flexibility to the vibration device 200. Thevibration device 200 may have flexibility. Thus, the vibration device200 may be bent in a shape matching that of the display panel 100.

The vibration device 200 may vibrate according to an electrical signalto vibrate the display panel 100. For example, the vibration device 200may vibrate according to a voice signal synchronized with an imagedisplayed by the display panel 100 to vibrate the display panel 100. Asanother example, the vibration device 200 may be on the display panel100, and may vibrate according to a haptic feedback signal (or a tactilefeedback signal) synchronized with a user touch applied to a touch panel(or a touch sensor layer) embedded into the display panel 100 to vibratethe display panel 100. Accordingly, the display panel 100 may vibratebased on a vibration of the vibration device 200 to provide a user (or aviewer) with at least one of sound and a haptic feedback. Embodimentsare not limited to the above examples.

Therefore, in the vibration device 200 of the display apparatusaccording to an embodiment of the present disclosure, an inorganicmaterial portion (or a first portion 210) and an organic materialportion (or a second portion 220) may be on the same layer. Thus, animpact transferred to the inorganic material portion may be absorbed bythe organic material portion, thereby reducing or preventing theinorganic material portion from being damaged by an external impactapplied to the display apparatus, and reducing or minimizing thereduction in vibration performance (or the reduction in soundperformance) caused by damage.

Moreover, the vibration device 200 of the display apparatus according toan embodiment of the present disclosure may include piezoelectricceramic having a perovskite crystalline structure. Thus, the vibrationdevice 200 may vibrate (or mechanical displacement) in response to anelectrical signal applied from the outside. For example, when analternating current (AC) voltage is applied to the inorganic materialportion (or the first portion 210), the inorganic material portion mayalternately contract and expand based on an inverse piezoelectriceffect. Thus, the vibration device 200 may vibrate based on a bendingphenomenon in which a bending direction is alternately changed, therebyvibrating the display panel 100 based on the vibration of the vibrationdevice 200 to provide sound and/or a haptic feedback to a user.

Moreover, the vibration device 200 according to an embodiment of thepresent disclosure may have a size corresponding to the display area AAof the display panel 100. A size of the vibration device 200 may be 0.9to 1.1 times a size of the display area AA, but embodiments of thepresent disclosure are not limited thereto. For example, a size of thevibration device 200 may be the same as or approximately equal to thatof the display area AA of the display panel 100. Thus, the vibrationdevice 200 may cover most of the display panel 100. Also, a vibrationgenerated by the vibration device 200 may vibrate the entire displaypanel 100. Thus, localization of a sound may be high, and satisfactionof a user may be improved. Also, a contact area (or panel coverage)between the display panel 100 and the vibration device 200 may increase.Thus, a vibration region of the display panel 100 may increase, therebyimproving a sound of a middle- and/or a low-pitched sound band generatedbased on a vibration of the display panel 100. Also, in a large-sizeddisplay apparatus, the entire display panel 100 having a large size (ora large area) may vibrate. Thus, localization of a sound based on avibration of the display panel 100 may be further enhanced, therebyrealizing a stereophonic sound effect.

Therefore, the vibration device 200 according to an embodiment of thepresent disclosure may be on the rear surface of the display panel 100to sufficiently vibrate the display panel 100 in a vertical (orfront-to-rear) direction, thereby outputting a desired sound to aforward region in front of the display apparatus. Also, a material inthe vibration device 200 may be implemented in a patterned shape,including an organic material portion and an inorganic material portion.Thus, an area (or a size) of the vibration device 200 may infinitelyincrease, whereby panel coverage of the vibration device 200 mayincrease with respect to the display panel 100 to enhance a soundcharacteristic based on a vibration of the display panel 100. Also, thevibration device 200 may be slimmed as a thin-film type, therebyreducing or preventing the increase in a driving voltage. For example,the vibration device 200 may be configured to have a wide areacorresponding to the same size as that of the display panel 100. Thus, asound pressure characteristic of a low-pitched sound band, which is adrawback of a film-type piezoelectric, for example, a piezoelectricwhere a plurality of layers are stacked, may be improved, and thedriving voltage may be reduced. Also, the vibration device 200 accordingto an embodiment of the present disclosure may include the inorganicmaterial portion and the organic material portion, and may beimplemented as a thin-film type. Thus, the vibration device 200 may beintegrated into or equipped in the display apparatus withoutinterference caused by a mechanical element and/or another element ofthe display apparatus.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a vibration device according to anembodiment of the present disclosure.

With reference to FIG. 3 , in conjunction with FIG. 2 , the vibrationdevice 200 may include a piezoelectric composite layer PCL, a firstelectrode 230, and a second electrode 240.

The piezoelectric composite layer PCL may include a plurality of firstportions 210 and a plurality of second portions 220, each disposedbetween the plurality of first portions 210.

Each of the plurality of first portions 210 may include a polygonalpattern. For example, each of the plurality of first portions 210 may aline pattern having a predetermined first width d1. For example, each ofthe plurality of first portions 210 may be spaced apart from one anotherby a predetermined second width d2 (or a certain interval) in a firstdirection X, and may be in parallel in a second direction Y intersectingthe first direction X. Each of the plurality of first portions 210 mayhave the same size (for example, the same width, area, or volume) withina process error range (or an allowable error or a tolerance) occurringin a manufacturing process.

Each of the plurality of first portions 210 according to an embodimentof the present disclosure may include an inorganic material or apiezoelectric material, each of which vibrating based on a piezoelectriceffect (or a piezoelectric characteristic) caused by an electric field.For example, each of the plurality of first portions 210 may be referredto, for example, as an electroactive portion, an inorganic materialportion, a piezoelectric material portion, or a vibration portion, butembodiments of the present disclosure are not limited thereto.

Each of the plurality of first portions 210 according to an embodimentof the present disclosure may include a ceramic-based material forgenerating a relatively high vibration, or may include a piezoelectricceramic having a perovskite-based crystalline structure. The perovskitecrystalline structure may have a piezoelectric effect and an inversepiezoelectric effect, and may be a plate-shaped structure havingorientation. The perovskite crystalline structure may be represented bya chemical formula “ABO₃”. In the chemical formula, “A” may include adivalent metal element, and “B” may include a tetravalent metal element.For example, in the chemical formula “ABO₃”, “A”, and “B” may becations, and “O” may be anions. For example, the chemical formula “ABO₃”may include one of lead(II) titanate (PbTiO₃), lead zirconate (PbZrO₃),barium titanate (BaTiO₃), and strontium titanate (SrTiO₃), butembodiments of the present disclosure are not limited thereto.

When the perovskite crystalline structure includes a center ion (forexample, PbTiO₃, e.g., lead(II) titanate, lead titanium oxide, or leadtitanate with a perovskite structure), a position of a titanium (Ti) ionmay be changed by an external stress or a magnetic field. Thus,polarization may be changed, thereby generating a piezoelectric effect.For example, in the perovskite crystalline structure, a cubic shapecorresponding to a symmetric structure may be changed to a tetragonal(or quadrilateral), orthorhombic, or rhombohedral structurecorresponding to an unsymmetric structure. Thus, a piezoelectric effectmay be generated. In a tetragonal, orthorhombic, or rhombohedralstructure corresponding to an unsymmetric structure, polarization may behigh in a morphotropic phase boundary, and realignment of polarizationmay be easy, whereby the perovskite crystalline structure may have ahigh piezoelectric characteristic.

For example, the inorganic material portion provided in each of theplurality of first portions 210 may include a material, including one ormore of lead (Pb), zirconium (Zr), titanium (Ti), zinc (Zn), nickel(Ni), and niobium (Nb), but embodiments of the present disclosure arenot limited thereto.

As another example, the inorganic material portion provided in each ofthe plurality of first portions 210 may include a lead zirconatetitanate (PZT)-based material, including lead (Pb), zirconium (Zr), andtitanium (Ti); or may include a lead zirconate nickel niobate(PZNN)-based material, including lead (Pb), zirconium (Zr), nickel (Ni),and niobium (Nb), but embodiments are not limited thereto. Also, theinorganic material portion may include at least one of calcium titanate(CaTiO₃), BaTiO₃, and SrTiO₃, each without Pb, but embodiments of thepresent disclosure are not limited thereto.

Each of the plurality of second portions 220 may be disposed between theplurality of first portions 210. Each of the plurality of secondportions 220 may be disposed parallel to each other with the firstportions 210 therebetween. The plurality of first portions 210 and theplurality of second portions 220 may be disposed (or arranged) on thesame plane (or the same layer) in parallel. Each of the plurality ofsecond portions 220 may fill a gap between two adjacent first portionsof the plurality of first portions 210, and may be connected to orattached to a first portion 210 adjacent thereto. Each of the pluralityof second portions 220 may include a polygonal pattern. For example,each of the plurality of second portions 220 may be a line patternhaving a predetermined second width d2. Each of the plurality of secondportions 220 may have the same size (for example, the same width, area,or volume) within a process error range (or an allowable error or atolerance) occurring in a manufacturing process.

A size of each of the second portions 220 may be the same as ordifferent from that of each first portion 210. For example, a size ofeach first portion 210 and a size of each second portion 220 may adjustbased on a desired condition including the vibration characteristicand/or flexibility of the vibration device 200.

Each of the plurality of second portions 220 according to an embodimentof the present disclosure may have modulus and viscoelasticity that arelower than those of each first portion 210. Thus, the plurality ofsecond portions 220 may enhance the reliability of each first portion210 vulnerable to an impact due to a fragile characteristic. Forexample, when the vibration device 200 for vibrating the display panel100 has an impact resistance and high stiffness, the vibration device200 may have a high or maximum vibration characteristic. For thevibration device 200 to have an impact resistance and high stiffness,the plurality of second portions 220 may each include a material havinga relatively high damping factor (tan δ) and relatively high stiffness.For example, the plurality of second portions 220 may each include amaterial having a damping factor (tan δ) of about 0.1 [GPa] to about 1[GPa] and relatively high stiffness of about 0 [GPa] to about 10 [GPa].Also, a damping factor (tan δ) and a stiff characteristic may bedescribed based on a correlation between a loss coefficient and modulus.For example, the plurality of second portions 220 may each include amaterial having a loss coefficient (or loss factor) of about 0.01 toabout 1.0 and modulus of about 1 [GPa] to about 10 [GPa]. Herein, themodulus may be understood as the dynamic modulus, which describes theratio of stress to strain under vibratory conditions or calculates bydividing tensile stress by tensile strain. Herein, the damping factor(tan δ) of a material may be understood as the ratio of the (tensile)loss modulus or energy to the (tensile) storage modulus or energy.Herein, the loss coefficient of a material may be understood as theratio of dissipated energy to strain energy.

The organic material portion in each of the plurality of second portions220 may include an organic material or an organic polymer that each hasa flexible characteristic in comparison with the inorganic materialportion of each of the first portions 210. For example, each of theplurality of second portions 220 may include one or more of an organicmaterial, an organic polymer, an organic piezoelectric material, and anorganic non-piezoelectric material. For example, each of the pluralityof second portions 220 may be referred to, for example, as an adhesiveportion, an elastic portion, a bending portion, a damping portion, or aflexible portion, but embodiments of the present disclosure are notlimited thereto.

An organic material portion according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure may include at least one of an organic piezoelectric materialand an organic non-piezoelectric material.

An organic material portion including an organic piezoelectric materialmay absorb an impact applied to an inorganic material portion (or afirst portion 210). Thus, the organic material portion may enhance thetotal durability of the vibration device 200, and may provide apiezoelectric characteristic corresponding to a certain level or more.The organic piezoelectric material according to an embodiment of thepresent disclosure may be an organic material having an electro activecharacteristic. For example, the organic piezoelectric material mayinclude at least one of polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), β-polyvinylidenefluoride (β-PVDF), and polyvinylidene-trifluoroethylene (PVDF-TrFE), butembodiments of the present disclosure are not limited thereto.

An organic material portion including an organic non-piezoelectricmaterial may include a curable resin composition and an adhesiveincluding the curable resin composition. Thus, the organic materialportion may absorb an impact applied to an inorganic material portion(or a first portion), thereby enhancing the total durability of thevibration device 200. The organic non-piezoelectric material accordingto an embodiment of the present disclosure may include at least one ofan epoxy-based polymer, an acryl-based polymer, and a silicone-basedpolymer, but embodiments are not limited thereto.

For example, an organic material portion including an organicnon-piezoelectric material may include an adhesion promoter or anadhesion enhancing agent for adhesiveness between epoxy resin and aninorganic material portion, for a high stiffness characteristic for thevibration device 200. For example, the adhesion promoter may bephosphate or the like, but embodiments of the present disclosure are notlimited thereto. The organic material portion may be cured by at leastone curing process of a thermal curing process and a photo-curingprocess. In a process of curing the organic material portion, solventfree type epoxy resin may be used for avoiding or preventing thethickness uniformity of the vibration device 200 from being reduced bycontraction of the organic material portion caused by volatilization ofa solvent.

Moreover, the organic material portion including the organicnon-piezoelectric material may further include a reinforcing agent,e.g., for a damping characteristic in addition to high stiffness of thevibration device 200. For example, the reinforcing agent may bemethylmethacrylate-butadiene-styrene (MBS) having a core shell type, anda content thereof may be about 5 wt % to about 40 wt %. The reinforcingagent may be an elastic body having the core cell type, and may have ahigh coupling force to epoxy resin, such as an acryl-based polymer.Thus, the reinforcing agent may enhance an impact resistance or adamping characteristic of the vibration device 200.

Therefore, the piezoelectric composite layer PCL may be configured withthe first portion 210 including an inorganic material and the secondportion 220 including an organic material, and thus, may be implementedas the vibration device 200 having a film type. For example, in thepiezoelectric composite layer PCL, the first portions 210 including aninorganic material and having a piezoelectric characteristic, and thesecond portions 220 including an organic material and havingflexibility, may be alternately repeated and connected to one another.Thus, the piezoelectric composite layer PCL may have a thin-film type.

Therefore, the piezoelectric composite layer PCL may be bent based on ashape of the display panel 100, and may have a size corresponding to thedisplay panel 100, or may have a size for realizing a vibrationcharacteristic or a sound characteristic, which may each be set based ona vibration of the display panel 100. For example, a size of each firstportion 210 and a size of each second portion 220 may be adjusted basedon a piezoelectric characteristic and flexibility. For example, in adisplay apparatus desiring more of a piezoelectric characteristic thanflexibility, a size of each first portion 210 may be greater than thatof each second portion 220. As another example, in a display apparatusdesiring more flexibility than a piezoelectric characteristic, a size ofeach second portion 220 may be greater than that of each first portion210.

Therefore, the piezoelectric composite layer PCL may be configured byadjusting the first portion 210 and the second portion 220 based on acharacteristic needed for a display apparatus, and thus, may be easilydesigned. Also, the piezoelectric composite layer PCL having a thin filmtype may be implemented, and thus, a thickness of the display apparatusmay not increase despite the arrangement of the vibration device.

The first electrode 230 may be on a first surface (or a front surface)of the piezoelectric composite layer PCL, and may be electricallyconnected to a first surface of each of the plurality of first portions210. The first electrode 230 according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure may include a transparent conductive material, asemitransparent (or translucent) conductive material, or an opaqueconductive material. For example, the transparent conductive material orthe semitransparent conductive material may include indium tin oxide(ITO) or indium zinc oxide (IZO), but embodiments of the presentdisclosure are not limited thereto. For example, the opaque conductivematerial may include aluminum (Al), copper (Cu), gold (Au), silver (Ag),molybdenum (Mo), magnesium (Mg), and an alloy of any thereof, butembodiments of the present disclosure are not limited thereto.

The second electrode 240 may be on a second surface (or a rear surface)opposite to the first surface of the piezoelectric composite layer PCL,and may be electrically connected to a second surface of each of theplurality of first portions 210. The second electrode 240 according toan embodiment may include a transparent conductive material, asemitransparent conductive material, or an opaque conductive material.For example, the second electrode 240 may include the same material asthat of the first electrode 230, but embodiments of the presentdisclosure are not limited thereto. As another example, the secondelectrode 240 may include a material different from that of the firstelectrode 230.

The piezoelectric composite layer PCL may be polarized by a certainvoltage applied to the first electrode 230 and the second electrode 240in a certain temperature atmosphere, or a temperature atmosphere thatmay be changed from a high temperature to a room temperature.Embodiments of the present disclosure are not limited to these examples.

The vibration device 200 according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure may further include a first protection layer 250 and a secondprotection layer 260.

The first protection layer 250 may be on the first electrode 230, andmay protect the first surface of the piezoelectric composite layer PCLor the first electrode 230. For example, the first protection layer 250may be a polyimide (PI) film or a polyethyleneterephthalate (PET) film,but embodiments of the present disclosure are not limited thereto.

The second protection layer 260 may be on the second electrode 240, andmay protect the second surface of the piezoelectric composite layer PCLor the second electrode 240. For example, the second protection layer260 may be a polyimide (PI) film or a polyethyleneterephthalate (PET)film, but embodiments of the present disclosure are not limited thereto.

FIG. 4 illustrates a piezoelectric composite layer according to a firstembodiment of the present disclosure.

With reference to FIG. 4 , the piezoelectric composite layer PCLaccording to the first embodiment of the present disclosure may includea plurality of first portions 210 and a plurality of second portions220. For example, the plurality of first portions 210 and the pluralityof second portions 220 may be alternately and repeatedly disposed in afirst direction X.

Each of the plurality of first portions 210 may have a first width d1parallel to the first direction X, and may have a length parallel to asecond direction Y. Each of the plurality of second portions 220 mayhave a second width d2, which may be the same as the first width d1, andmay have a length parallel to the second direction Y. For example, thefirst portions 210 and the second portions 220 may each have a line typeor a stripe type, each having the same size.

Therefore, in the piezoelectric composite layer PCL according to thefirst embodiment of the present disclosure, the first portions 210 andthe second portions 220, each having the same size, may be alternatelyand repeatedly disposed (or connected) on the same plane. Thus, thepiezoelectric composite layer PCL may have a single thin-film type. Forexample, the piezoelectric composite layer PCL may vibrate in a verticaldirection by the first portions 210 having a vibration characteristic,and may be bent in a curved shape by the second portions 220 having aflexible characteristic. The piezoelectric composite layer PCL accordingto the first embodiment of the present disclosure may be enlarged tohave a desired size or length, e.g., through side coupling (orconnection) of the first portions 210 and the second portions 220.

FIG. 5A illustrates an example in which both ends of the piezoelectriccomposite layer of FIG. 4 are folded upward. FIG. 5B illustrates anexample in which the both ends of the piezoelectric composite layer ofFIG. 4 are folded downward.

With reference to FIGS. 5A and 5B, the piezoelectric composite layer PCLaccording to the first embodiment of the present disclosure may vibratewith an electric field based on a signal applied to each of theplurality of first portions 210 having a line pattern. Thus, both endsEP in a first direction X may be folded in an upward direction +Z, ormay be folded in a downward direction −Z. For example, each of theplurality of second portions 220 filled or disposed between two adjacentfirst portions of the plurality of first portions 210 may haveflexibility. Thus, even when the both ends EP of the piezoelectriccomposite layer PCL are bent in the upward direction +Z or the downwarddirection −Z, the inorganic material portion, which is each firstportion 210, may not be damaged or may not be reduced in performance.

Therefore, the display apparatus including the vibration device 200including the piezoelectric composite layer PCL according to anembodiment of the present disclosure may be applied to a flexibledisplay apparatus, and for example, the vibration device 200 includingthe piezoelectric composite layer PCL according to an embodiment of thepresent disclosure may be applied to a curved display apparatus which isbent at a certain curvature radius. However, the present disclosure isnot limited thereto. For example, the vibration device 200 including thepiezoelectric composite layer PCL according to an embodiment of thepresent disclosure may be applied to a rollable display apparatus woundin a spiral form and unwound, a bendable display apparatus, or awearable display apparatus wound around a wrist. The bendable displayapparatus may be an edge bending display apparatus, a bezel bendingdisplay apparatus, or an active bending display apparatus, but is notlimited thereto. As another example, the vibration device 200 includingthe piezoelectric composite layer PCL according to an embodiment of thepresent disclosure may vibrate based on a signal applied thereto, andthus, may vibrate in a first direction X and a second direction Y tovibrate in a vertical direction of the display panel 100. In this case,also, the vibration device 200 including the piezoelectric compositelayer PCL according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may beapplied to a curved display apparatus which is bent at a certaincurvature radius, a rollable display apparatus wound in a spiral formand unwound, a bendable display apparatus, or a wearable displayapparatus wound around a wrist. The bendable display apparatus may be anedge bending display apparatus, a bezel bending display apparatus, or anactive bending display apparatus, but is not limited thereto.

FIG. 6 illustrates a piezoelectric composite layer according to anotherembodiment (or a second embodiment) of the present disclosure. FIG. 6illustrates an embodiment implemented by modifying the first portions210 of the piezoelectric composite layer PCL illustrated in FIG. 4 .Thus, a repetitive description is omitted or will be briefly givenbelow.

With reference to FIG. 6 , in a piezoelectric composite layer PCLaccording to another embodiment of the present disclosure, a pluralityof first portions 210 and a plurality of second portions 220 may havedifferent sizes.

Each of the plurality of first portions 210 may have a third width d3,and each of the plurality of second portions 220 may have a fourth widthd4 differing from the third width d3. For example, the third width d3 ofeach first portion 210 may be greater than the fourth width d4 of eachsecond portion 220. Also, the third width d3 of each first portion 210may be greater than the first width d1 of each first portion 210illustrated in FIG. 4 .

When the third width d3, which is a width of an inorganic materialportion of each first portion 210, is greater than the fourth width d4,which is a width of an organic material portion of each second portion220, the piezoelectric composite layer PCL may be reduced inflexibility. However, when a size of the inorganic material portion,which is relatively good in vibration characteristic of a high-pitchedsound band, increases, the piezoelectric composite layer PCL may have animproved high-pitched sound characteristic.

In the piezoelectric composite layer PCL according to another embodimentof the present disclosure, each of the first portions 210 may have asize that is greater than that of each of the second portions 220. Thus,the vibration characteristic of the high-pitched sound band mayincrease. For example, a content (or a ratio) of the first portions 210in the piezoelectric composite layer PCL illustrated in FIG. 6 may bethe same as a content (or a ratio) of the first portions 210 in thepiezoelectric composite layer PCL illustrated in FIG. 4 . However, whena size of each first portion 210 increases, the piezoelectric compositelayer PCL illustrated in FIG. 6 may further improve the vibrationcharacteristic of the high-pitched sound band as compared to thepiezoelectric composite layer PCL illustrated in FIG. 4 .

Therefore, when a size of each first portion 210 included in thepiezoelectric composite layer PCL of the flexible vibration module 200increases (or enlarges), a display apparatus including the piezoelectriccomposite layer PCL according to another embodiment of the presentdisclosure may have an improved sound characteristic of the high-pitchedsound band generated by a vibration of the display panel 100 based on avibration of the vibration device 200. Also, the display apparatus,including the piezoelectric composite layer PCL, according to anotherembodiment of the present disclosure may be used in a flexible displayapparatus that may be substantially similar to the display apparatusincluding the vibration device 200 illustrated in FIG. 4 .

FIG. 7 illustrates a piezoelectric composite layer according to anotherembodiment (or a third embodiment) of the present disclosure. FIG. 7illustrates an embodiment implemented by modifying all of the firstportions 210 and the second portions 220 of the piezoelectric compositelayer PCL illustrated in FIG. 4 . Thus, a repetitive description isomitted or will be briefly given below.

With reference to FIG. 7 , in a piezoelectric composite layer PCLaccording to another embodiment of the present disclosure, a pluralityof first portions 210 and a plurality of second portions 220 may havedifferent sizes or may have the same size.

Each of the plurality of first portions 210 may have a third width d3.Each of the plurality of second portions 220 may have a fifth width d5differing from the third width d3. For example, the third width d3 ofeach first portion 210 may be greater than the first width d1 of eachfirst portion 210 illustrated in FIG. 4 , and the fifth width d5 of eachsecond portion 220 may be greater than the fourth width d4 of eachsecond portion 220 illustrated in FIG. 6 .

In the piezoelectric composite layer PCL according to another embodimentof the present disclosure, a size of each first portion 210 and a sizeof each second portion 220 may increase. Thus, the piezoelectriccomposite layer PCL may further increase in a sound characteristic or avibration characteristic of the middle- and/or low-pitched sound bandsthan the piezoelectric composite layer PCL illustrated in each of FIGS.4 and 6 . For example, a content (or a ratio) of the first portions 210in the piezoelectric composite layer PCL illustrated in FIG. 7 may behigher than a content (or a ratio) of the first portions 210 in thepiezoelectric composite layer PCL illustrated in FIG. 4 . Also, acontent (or a ratio) of the second portions 220 in the piezoelectriccomposite layer PCL illustrated in FIG. 7 may be higher than a content(or a ratio) of the second portions 220 in the piezoelectric compositelayer PCL illustrated in each of FIGS. 4 and 6 . For example, thepiezoelectric composite layer PCL illustrated in FIG. 7 may have a sizeenlargement effect of each of the first and second portions 210 and 220.Thus, due to an effect in which panel coverage of vibration device 200increases with respect to the display panel 100, rather than thevibration device 200, a vibration characteristic of the low-pitchedsound band may further increase.

Therefore, due to an effect in which all of a size of each of the firstand second portions 210 and 220 included in the piezoelectric compositelayer PCL of the vibration device 200 increases, a display apparatusincluding the piezoelectric composite layer PCL according to anotherembodiment of the present disclosure may increase in a soundcharacteristic of the low-pitched sound band, as well as in a soundcharacteristic of the high-pitched sound band generated by a vibrationof the display panel 100. Thus, flatness of a sound pressure generatedby a vibration of the vibration device 200 may be improved due to theincrease in sound characteristic of the low-pitched sound band. Also,the display apparatus including the piezoelectric composite layer PCLaccording to another embodiment of the present disclosure may be used ina flexible display apparatus that may be substantially similar to thedisplay apparatus including the vibration device 200 illustrated in FIG.4 .

FIG. 8 illustrates a piezoelectric composite layer according to anotherembodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 9 illustrates an example inwhich both ends of the piezoelectric composite layer of FIG. 8 arefolded downward.

FIGS. 8 and 9 illustrate an embodiment implemented by modifying thesecond portions 220 of the piezoelectric composite layer PCL illustratedin FIG. 4 . Thus, a repetitive description is omitted or will be brieflygiven below.

With reference to FIGS. 8 and 9 , in the piezoelectric composite layerPCL according to another embodiment (or a fourth embodiment) of thepresent disclosure, a size (or a width) of each of a plurality of secondportions 220, between a plurality of first portions 210, mayprogressively decrease in a direction from a center portion CP to bothedges or both peripheries (or both ends EP) of the piezoelectriccomposite layer PCL or a vibration device 200.

A largest second portion 220, having a largest size among the pluralityof second portions 220, may be located in a portion SCP on which ahighest stress may concentrate when the vibration device 200 isvibrating in a vertical direction Z, and a smallest second portion 220,having a smallest size among the plurality of second portions 220, maybe located in a portion SWP where a relatively low stress may occur whenthe vibration device 200 is vibrating in the vertical direction Z. Forexample, the largest second portion 220, having the largest size amongthe plurality of second portions 220, may be located in the centerportion CP of the vibration device 200, and the smallest second portion220, having the smallest size among the plurality of second portions 220may be located in each of the both edges or peripheries EP of thevibration device 200. Therefore, when the vibration device 200 isvibrating in the vertical direction Z, interference of a sound wave oroverlapping of a resonance frequency, each occurring in the portion SCPon which the highest stress concentrates, may be reduced or minimized.Thus, dipping phenomenon of a sound pressure occurring in thelow-pitched sound band may be reduced, thereby improving flatness of asound characteristic in the low-pitched sound band. Here, flatness of asound characteristic may be a level of a deviation between a highestsound pressure and a lowest sound pressure.

The center portion CP of the vibration device 200 may correspond to asecond portion 220. The center portion CP of the vibration device 200may overlap a second portion 220. For example, the center portion CP ofthe vibration device 200 may overlap a center of the second portion 220.For example, when the vibration device 200 is vibrating in the verticaldirection Z, flexibility of the center portion CP of the vibrationdevice 200 may increase. For example, when the center portion CP of thevibration device 200 overlaps a first portion 210 or corresponds to thefirst portion 210, when the vibration device 200 is vibrating in thevertical direction Z, the first portion 210 may be damaged or reduced inperformance due to stress concentrating on the center portion CP of thevibration device 200. Accordingly, when the center portion CP of thevibration device 200 overlaps a second portion 220 or corresponds to thesecond portion 220, when the vibration device 200 is vibrating in thevertical direction Z, the second portion 220 may not be damaged orreduced in performance in the portion SCP on which stress mayconcentrate.

For example, each of the plurality of first portions 210 may have thesame size (or width).

As another example, each of the plurality of first portions 210 may havedifferent sizes (or widths). For example, a size (or a width) of each ofthe plurality of first portions 210 may progressively decrease orincrease in a direction from the center portion CP to the both edges (orboth ends EP) of the piezoelectric composite layer PCL or the vibrationdevice 200. For example, in the vibration device 200, a sound pressurecharacteristic of a sound may be enhanced and a sound reproduction bandmay increase, based on various natural vibration frequencies based on avibration of each of the plurality of first portions 210 havingdifferent sizes.

Therefore, the display apparatus including the piezoelectric compositelayer PCL according to another embodiment of the present disclosure maybe used in a flexible display apparatus that may be substantiallysimilar to a display apparatus including the vibration device 200illustrated in FIG. 4 .

FIG. 10 illustrates a piezoelectric composite layer according to anotherembodiment (or a fifth embodiment) of the present disclosure.

With reference to FIG. 10 , the piezoelectric composite layer PCLaccording to another embodiment of the present disclosure may include aplurality of first portions 210, which may each have a circular shape.For example, the piezoelectric composite layer PCL may include aplurality of first portions 210 spaced apart from one another, and asecond portion 220 surrounding each of the plurality of first portions210.

Each of the plurality of first portions 210 may have a circular shape.For example, each of the plurality of first portions 210 may have acircular plate shape. Each of the plurality of first portions 210 mayinclude an inorganic material portion having a vibration characteristicas described above. Thus, a repetitive description of the material isomitted.

The second portion 220 may be disposed or filled between the pluralityof first portions 210, and may surround a side surface of each of theplurality of first portions 210. The second portion 220 may include anorganic material portion having flexibility as described above. Thus,its repetitive description is omitted. The second portion 220 mayprovide flexibility between two adjacent first portions of the pluralityof first portions 210. Thus, a shape of the piezoelectric compositelayer PCL or the vibration device 200 may have various shapes, such as atwo-dimensional (2D) or three-dimensional (3D) shape, based ondeformation occurring between two adjacent first portions of theplurality of first portions 210.

Each of the plurality of first portions 210 may have various shapes, inaddition to a circular plate shape. For example, each of the pluralityof first portions 210 may have an oval shape, a polygonal shape, or adonut shape, but embodiments of the present disclosure are not limitedthereto. For example, an oval shape may include an elliptical shape, anegg-shape, a rectangular shape with rounded corners, or othernon-circular curved shape having a width different from its height.

Each of the plurality of first portions 210 may have a dotted shapeincluding, for example, a fine (or micro) circular shape, a fine ovalshape, a fine polygonal shape, or a fine donut shape. A shape of adisplay apparatus including a vibration device 200 including theplurality of first portions 210 may have various shapes, based onflexibility of the second portion 220 between two adjacent firstportions of the plurality of first portions 210. For example, a shape ofa display panel of a display apparatus including the vibration device200 illustrated in each of FIGS. 4 to 9 may be a 2D shape, which may beconcave or convex, based on the first portions 210 (or an inorganicmaterial portion) having a line shape. As another example, a shape of adisplay panel of a display apparatus including the vibration device 200illustrated in FIG. 10 may have various shapes, such as a 3D shape, aswell as a 2D shape, based on the first portions 210 (or an inorganicmaterial portion) having a dotted shape. Accordingly, the vibrationdevice 200 including the piezoelectric composite layer PCL according toanother embodiment of the present disclosure may be enhanced in degreeof freedom in design based on a shape of a display apparatus, and may beapplied to a flexible display apparatus having a shape capable of beingchanged to various shapes, such as a 2D shape or a 3D shape.

FIG. 11 illustrates a piezoelectric composite layer according to anotherembodiment (or a sixth embodiment) of the present disclosure. FIG. 12illustrates an embodiment of the piezoelectric composite layerillustrated in FIG. 11 .

With reference to FIG. 11 , the piezoelectric composite layer PCLaccording to another embodiment (or a sixth embodiment) of the presentdisclosure may include a plurality of first portions 210, which may eachhave a triangular shape. For example, the piezoelectric composite layerPCL may include a plurality of first portions 210, and a second portion220 surrounding each of the plurality of first portions 210. Forexample, the piezoelectric composite layer PCL may include a pluralityof first portions 210 spaced apart from one another, and a secondportion 220 surrounding each of the plurality of first portions 210.

Each of the plurality of first portions 210 may have a triangular shape.For example, each of the plurality of first portions 210 may have atriangular plate shape. Each of the plurality of first portions 210 mayinclude an inorganic material portion having a vibration characteristicas described above. Thus, its repetitive description is omitted.

For example, four adjacent first portions 210 of the plurality of firstportions 210 may be adjacent to one another to form a tetragonal orquadrilateral shape (or a square shape). Vertices of the four adjacentfirst portions 210 forming a tetragonal shape may be adjacent to oneanother in a center portion (or a central portion) of the tetragonalshape.

As another example, as illustrated in FIG. 12 , six adjacent firstportions 210 of the plurality of first portions 210 may be adjacent toone another to form a hexagonal shape (or a regularly hexagonal shape).Vertices of the six adjacent first portions 210 forming a hexagonalshape may be adjacent to one another in a center portion (or a centralportion) of the hexagonal shape. Therefore, 2N (where N is a naturalnumber greater than or equal to 2) adjacent first portions 210 of theplurality of first portions 210 may be disposed adjacent to one anotherto form a 2N-angular shape.

The second portion 220 may be disposed or filled between the pluralityof first portions 210. For example, the second portion 220 may surrounda side surface of each of the plurality of first portions 210. Thesecond portion 220 may include an organic material portion havingflexibility, as described above. Thus, its repetitive description isomitted. The second portion 220 may provide flexibility between twoadjacent first portions of the plurality of first portions 210. Thus, ashape of the piezoelectric composite layer PCL or the vibration device200 may have various shapes, such as a 3D shape, as well as a 2D shape,based on deformation occurring between two adjacent first portions ofthe plurality of first portions 210.

Therefore, in a display apparatus including a vibration device 200having the piezoelectric composite layer PCL according to anotherembodiment of the present disclosure, a display panel may change basedon various 3D shape changes of the vibration device 200. Also, theplurality of first portions 210 having a triangular shape may have afine pattern (or micro pattern) corresponding to various shapes, and adisplay panel of a display apparatus including the vibration device 200including the first portions 210 may have various shapes based onflexibility of the second portion 220 between two adjacent firstportions of the plurality of first portions 210. Also, a displayapparatus including the piezoelectric composite layer PCL according toanother embodiment of the present disclosure may be used in a flexibledisplay apparatus that may be substantially similar to a displayapparatus including the vibration device 200 illustrated in FIG. 4 .

FIG. 13 illustrates a display apparatus according to another embodimentof the present disclosure, and FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view takenalong line II-IP illustrated in FIG. 13 .

With reference to FIGS. 13 and 14 , the display apparatus according toanother embodiment of the present disclosure may include a vibrationdevice disposed on a rear surface of a display panel 100.

The rear surface (or a back surface) of the display panel 100 mayinclude two regions. A first vibration array 270 may be disposed in afirst region of the two regions, and a second vibration array 270′ maybe disposed in a second region of the two regions. For example, thefirst vibration array 270 may vibrate the first region of the displaypanel 100, and thus, may generate a second haptic feedback or a secondvibration sound PVS2 in the first region of the display panel 100. Forexample, the second vibration sound PVS2 may be a left sound. Forexample, the second vibration array 270′ may vibrate the second regionof the display panel 100, and thus, may generate a first haptic feedbackor a first vibration sound PVS1 in the second region of the displaypanel 100. For example, the first vibration sound PVS1 may be a rightsound.

With reference to FIG. 14 , the vibration device according to anembodiment of the present disclosure may include the first vibrationarray 270 and the second vibration array 270′. The first vibration array270 and the second vibration array 270′ may each include a piezoelectriccomposite, a first electrode disposed on the piezoelectric composite,and a second electrode disposed under the piezoelectric composite. Ineach of the first vibration array 270 and the second vibration array270′, the piezoelectric composite, the first electrode, and the secondelectrode may be the same as the piezoelectric composite layer PCL, thefirst electrode 230, and the second electrode 240 described above withreference to FIGS. 1 to 12 , and thus, their detailed descriptions areomitted.

The first vibration array 270 and the second vibration array 270′ may bedisposed on the rear surface of the display panel 100 by an adhesivemember 150. The adhesive member 150 may be a double-sided tape or anadhesive. For example, an adhesive layer of the adhesive member 150 mayinclude epoxy, acryl, silicone, or urethane, but embodiments are notlimited thereto. The adhesive layer of the adhesive member 150 mayfurther include an additive such as a tackifier, a wax component, or anantioxidant, and the additive may prevent the adhesive member 150 frombeing detached (or stripped) from the display panel 100 by a vibrationof the vibration device. For example, the tackfier may be rosinderivatives, the wax component may be paraffin wax, and the antioxidantmay be a phenolic antioxidant such as thioester, but embodiments of thepresent disclosure are not limited thereto.

FIG. 15 illustrates a display apparatus including a vibration deviceaccording to another embodiment of the present disclosure.

With reference to FIG. 15 , a rear surface (or a back surface) of adisplay panel 100 may include a first region A1 and a second region A2.For example, the rear surface (or the back surface) of the display panel100 may be divided into the first region A1 and the second region A2.For example, the first region A1 may be a left region of the rearsurface of the display panel 100, and the second region A2 may be aright region of the rear surface of the display panel 100. The firstregion A1 and the second region A2 may be bilaterally symmetric withrespect to a center line CL of the display panel 100 in a firstdirection X.

The vibration device according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure may include a vibration array including two or more vibrationmodules. When the vibration device is configured with one vibrationmodule, the inventors have recognized that a vibration sound forvibrating the display panel 100 is weak or insufficient. For example,when a vibration module is enlarged based on a size of the display panel100, a weak vibration sound may be solved, but there may be a problemwhere it is difficult to manufacture a large-sized vibration module dueto a yield rate. Therefore, the inventors have recognized that avibration device should be configured with a vibration array includingtwo or more vibration modules, for realizing a desired vibration sound.

A first vibration array 270 may be disposed in the first region A1 ofthe display panel 100. The first vibration array 270 may vibrate thefirst region A1 of the display panel 100, and thus, may generate asecond haptic feedback or a second vibration sound PVS2 in the firstregion A1 of the display panel 100. For example, the second vibrationsound PVS2 may be a left sound.

The first vibration array 270 may include a first vibration module200-1. With respect to the first direction X, the first vibration module200-1 may be disposed close to a center or an edge (or periphery) of thefirst region A1 of the display panel 100. For example, the firstvibration module 200-1 may be disposed close to a first partition member510 or a third partition member 530. A size of the first vibrationmodule 200-1 may have a size corresponding to half or more of the firstregion A1, but is not limited thereto. For example, a size of the firstvibration module 200-1 may be adjusted based on a sound characteristicneeded for a display apparatus.

A second vibration array 270′ may be disposed in the second region A2 ofthe display panel 100. The second vibration array 270′ may vibrate thesecond region A2 of the display panel 100, and thus, may generate afirst haptic feedback or a first vibration sound PVS1 in the secondregion of the display panel 100. For example, the first vibration soundPVS1 may be a right sound.

The second vibration array 270′ may include a second vibration module200-2. With respect to the first direction X, the second vibrationmodule 200-2 may be disposed close to a center or an edge (or periphery)of the second region A2 of the display panel 100. For example, thesecond vibration module 200-2 may be disposed close to a secondpartition member 520 or the third partition member 530. A size of thesecond vibration module 200-2 may have a size corresponding to half ormore of the second region A2, but embodiments are not limited thereto.For example, a size of the second vibration module 200-2 may be setbased on a sound characteristic needed for a display apparatus.

Each of the first vibration module 200-1 and the second vibration module200-2 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may have aline shape. For example, each of the first vibration module 200-1 andthe second vibration module 200-2 may include a piezoelectric compositelayer PCL which includes a plurality of first portions 210 spaced apartfrom one another and a plurality of second portions 220 each disposedbetween two adjacent first portions 210 of the plurality of firstportions 210. This may be substantially the same as the vibrationdevices 200 illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 9 , and thus, their repetitivedescriptions are omitted. For example, each of the first vibrationmodule 200-1 and the second vibration module 200-2 may be configuredwith one or more of the vibration devices 200 according to an embodimentof the present disclosure illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 9 .

The vibration device according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure may further include a third vibration module 200-3 in thefirst region A1 of the display panel 100. For example, because the firstvibration module 200-1 and the third vibration module 200-3 areprovided, a vibration area in the first region A1 of the display panel100 may increase. Therefore, because the third vibration module 200-3 isfurther disposed in addition to the first vibration module 200-1, thesecond vibration sound PVS2 may be more enhanced. Each of the firstvibration module 200-1 and the third vibration module 200-3 may vibratethe first region A1 of the display panel 100, and thus, may generate thefirst haptic feedback or the second vibration sound PVS2 in the firstregion A1 of the display panel 100. For example, the second vibrationsound PVS2 may be a left sound. For example, each of the first vibrationmodule 200-1 and the third vibration module 200-3 may be alternately (oralternatively) disposed or in a diagonal direction, but embodiments arenot limited thereto. For example, a vibration area of the first regionA1 of the display panel 100 may increase based on a diagonal arrangementstructure of the first vibration module 200-1 and the third vibrationmodule 200-3, and thus, a low-pitched sound band characteristic of aleft sound may be enhanced.

As another example, the first vibration module 200-1 and the thirdvibration module 200-3 may be disposed in parallel in the firstdirection X or a second direction Y in the first region A1 of thedisplay panel 100. Even in this case, a vibration area of the firstregion A1 of the display panel 100 may increase based on a parallelarrangement structure of the first vibration module 200-1 and the thirdvibration module 200-3, and thus, a low-pitched sound bandcharacteristic of a left sound may be enhanced. Comparing with theparallel arrangement structure of the first vibration module 200-1 andthe third vibration module 200-3, the diagonal arrangement structure ofthe first vibration module 200-1 and the third vibration module 200-3may more increase a vibration area of the first region A1 of the displaypanel 100, and thus, a low-pitched sound band characteristic of a leftsound may be more enhanced. The diagonal arrangement structure of thefirst vibration module 200-1 and the third vibration module 200-3 mayhave an effect where vibration modules disposed in the first region A1of the display panel 100 are arranged in a 2×2 structure, and thus, thenumber of vibration modules vibrating the first region A1 of the displaypanel 100 may decrease by half.

The vibration device according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure may further include a fourth vibration module 200-4 in thesecond region A2 of the display panel 100. For example, because thesecond vibration module 200-2 and the fourth vibration module 200-4 areprovided, a vibration area in the second region A2 of the display panel100 may increase. Therefore, because the fourth vibration module 200-4is further disposed in addition to the second vibration module 200-2,the first vibration sound PVS1 may be more enhanced. Each of the secondvibration module 200-2 and the fourth vibration module 200-4 may vibratethe second region A2 of the display panel 100, and thus, may generatethe first haptic feedback or the first vibration sound PVS1 in thesecond region A2 of the display panel 100. For example, the firstvibration sound PVS1 may be a right sound. For example, each of thesecond vibration module 200-2 and the fourth vibration module 200-4 maybe alternately (or alternatively) disposed or in a diagonal direction,but is not limited thereto. For example, a vibration area of the secondregion A2 of the display panel 100 may increase based on a diagonalarrangement structure of the second vibration module 200-2 and thefourth vibration module 200-4, and thus, a low-pitched sound bandcharacteristic of a right sound may be enhanced.

As another example, the second vibration module 200-2 and the fourthvibration module 200-4 may be disposed in parallel in the firstdirection X or the second direction Y in the second region A2 of thedisplay panel 100. Even in this case, a vibration area of the secondregion A2 of the display panel 100 may increase based on a parallelarrangement structure of the second vibration module 200-2 and thefourth vibration module 200-4, and thus, a low-pitched sound bandcharacteristic of a right sound may be enhanced. Comparing with theparallel arrangement structure of the second vibration module 200-2 andthe fourth vibration module 200-4, the diagonal arrangement structure ofthe second vibration module 200-2 and the fourth vibration module 200-4may more increase a vibration area of the second region A2 of thedisplay panel 100, and thus, a low-pitched sound band characteristic ofa right sound may be more enhanced. The diagonal arrangement structureof the second vibration module 200-2 and the fourth vibration module200-4 may have an effect where vibration modules disposed in the secondregion A2 of the display panel 100 are arranged in a 2×2 structure, andthus, the number of vibration modules vibrating the second region A2 ofthe display panel 100 may decrease by half.

Each of the second vibration module 200-2 and the fourth vibrationmodule 200-4 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may bea piezoelectric composite having a line shape. For example, each of thesecond vibration module 200-2 and the fourth vibration module 200-4 mayinclude a piezoelectric composite layer PCL which includes a pluralityof first portions 210 apart from one another and a plurality of secondportions 220 each disposed between two adjacent first portions 210 ofthe plurality of first portions 210. This may be substantially the sameas the vibration devices 200 illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 9 , and thus,their repetitive descriptions are omitted. For example, each of thesecond vibration module 200-2 and the fourth vibration module 200-4 maybe configured with one or more of the vibration devices 200 according toan embodiment of the present disclosure illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 9 .

The first vibration module 200-1 may be disposed close to an edge (or aperiphery) of the first region A1 of the display panel 100 with respectto the first direction X. For example, the first vibration module 200-1may be disposed between a center and the edge of the first region A1 ofthe display panel 100. For example, the first vibration module 200-1 maybe disposed in a left upper region adjacent to an edge of the displaypanel 100 in the first region A1 of the display panel 100 with respectto the first direction X. Therefore, the first vibration module 200-1may output a sound having an increased high-pitched sound band. Asanother example, the first vibration module 200-1 may be implemented sothat the first vibration module 200-1 is disposed in a desired region ofthe display panel 100 to output a sound having one or more of ahigh-pitched sound band, a middle-pitched sound band, and a low-pitchedsound band. For example, the first vibration module 200-1 may bedisposed in an upper region of the display panel 100 so that a sound ofthe high-pitched sound band is output at an upper portion of the displaypanel 100.

The third vibration module 200-3 may be disposed close to the centerline CL of the display panel 100 in the first region A1 of the displaypanel 100 with respect to the first direction X. For example, the thirdvibration module 200-3 may be disposed between the center line CL of thedisplay panel 100 and the center of the first region A1. For example,the third vibration module 200-3 may be disposed in a right lower regionadjacent to the center line CL of the display panel 100 in the firstregion A1 of the display panel 100 with respect to the first directionX. The third vibration module 200-3 may be alternately (oralternatively) disposed with respect to the first vibration module 200-1in the first region A1 of the display panel 100, and thus, may notoverlap the first vibration module 200-1 in the first direction X andthe second direction Y. Therefore, the third vibration module 200-3 mayoutput a sound having an increased middle-low-pitched sound band. Asanother example, the third vibration module 200-3 may be implemented sothat the third vibration module 200-3 is disposed in a desired region ofthe display panel 100 to output a sound having one or more of thehigh-pitched sound band, the middle-pitched sound band, and thelow-pitched sound band. For example, the third vibration module 200-3may be disposed in a lower region of the display panel 100 so that asound of a middle-low-pitched sound band is output at a lower portion ofthe display panel 100.

The second vibration module 200-2 may be disposed close to an edge (or aperiphery) of the second region A2 of the display panel 100 with respectto the first direction X. For example, the second vibration module 200-2may be disposed between a center and the edge (or periphery) of thesecond region A2 of the display panel 100. For example, the secondvibration module 200-2 may be disposed in a right upper region adjacentto an edge (or periphery) of the display panel 100 in the second regionA2 of the display panel 100 with respect to the first direction X.Therefore, the second vibration module 200-2 may output a sound havingan increased high-pitched sound band. Also, the first vibration module200-1 and the second vibration module 200-2 may be bilaterally symmetricwith respect to the center line CL of the display panel 100.

The fourth vibration module 200-4 may be disposed close to the centerline CL of the display panel 100 in the second region A2 of the displaypanel 100 with respect to the first direction X. For example, the fourthvibration module 200-4 may be disposed between the center line CL of thedisplay panel 100 and a center of the second region A2. For example, thefourth vibration module 200-4 may be disposed in a left lower regionadjacent to the center line CL of the display panel 100 in the secondregion A2 of the display panel 100 with respect to the first directionX. The fourth vibration module 200-4 may be alternatively disposed withrespect to the second vibration module 200-2 in the second region A2 ofthe display panel 100 with respect to the first direction X, and thus,may not overlap the second vibration module 200-2 in the first directionX and the second direction Y. Therefore, the fourth vibration module200-4 may output a sound having an increased middle-low-pitched soundband. Also, the third vibration module 200-3 and the fourth vibrationmodule 200-4 may be bilaterally symmetric with respect to the centerline CL of the display panel 100 in a first direction X.

Each of the first to fourth vibration modules 200-1 to 200-4 may furtherinclude a first electrode, which is disposed on a first surface of thepiezoelectric composite layer PCL and is electrically connected to afirst surface of each of the plurality of first portions 210, and asecond electrode which is disposed on a second surface, which isopposite to the first surface, of the piezoelectric composite layer PCLand is electrically connected to a second surface of each of theplurality of first portions 210. Also, each of the first to fourthvibration modules 200-1 to 200-4 may further include a first protectionlayer on the first electrode and a second protection layer under thesecond electrode. Each of the first electrode, the second electrode, thefirst protection layer, and the second protection layer is as describedabove, and thus, their repetitive descriptions are omitted.

The display apparatus according to another embodiment of the presentdisclosure may further include a first plate disposed between the thirdvibration module 200-3 and the display panel 100 and a second platedisposed between the fourth vibration module 200-4 and the display panel100.

The first plate may be coupled or connected to each of the thirdvibration module 200-3 and the display panel 100 by using an adhesivemember. The first plate may transfer a vibration of the third vibrationmodule 200-3 to the display panel 100. Also, the first plate mayreinforce a mass of the third vibration module 200-3 to decrease aresonance frequency of the third vibration module 200-3 based on anincreased mass, and thus, may increase a sound pressure characteristicof a low-pitched sound band of the third vibration module 200-3, therebyenhancing flatness of a sound characteristic based on a vibration of thedisplay panel 100.

The second plate may be coupled or connected to each of the fourthvibration module 200-4 and the display panel 100 by using an adhesivemember. The second plate may transfer a vibration of the fourthvibration module 200-4 to the display panel 100. Also, the second platemay reinforce a mass of the fourth vibration module 200-4 to decrease aresonance frequency of the fourth vibration module 200-4 based on anincreased mass, and thus, may increase a sound pressure characteristicof a low-pitched sound band of the fourth vibration module 200-4,thereby enhancing flatness of a sound characteristic based on avibration of the display panel 100.

The first plate and the second plate according to an embodiment of thepresent disclosure may include one or more materials of stainless steel,aluminum (Al), a magnesium (Mg), a Mg alloy, a Mg-lithium (Li) alloy,and an Al alloy, but are not limited thereto.

The display apparatus according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure may further include a partition 500. The partition 500 may bean air gap or a space, where a sound is generated when the display panel100 is vibrated by the first to fourth vibration modules 200-1 to 200-4.An air gap or a space for generating or transferring a sound may bereferred to as a partition. A partition may separate a sound or achannel and may prevent or decrease the occurrence of a nontransparentsound caused by interference of a sound. A partition may be an enclosureor a baffle, but the terms are not limited thereto.

The partition 500 according to an embodiment of the present disclosuremay include a fourth partition member 540 and a fifth partition member550, which are disposed between the first and second vibration arrays270 and 270′.

The fourth partition member 540 and the fifth partition member 550 maybe disposed between the display panel 100 and a supporting member 300.For example, the fourth partition member 540 and the fifth partitionmember 550 may be disposed in a center region of the display panel 100.For example, the fourth partition member 540 and the fifth partitionmember 550 may be disposed in parallel in the center region of thedisplay panel 100. The fourth partition member 540 and the fifthpartition member 550 may be disposed on a rear center line CL of thedisplay panel 100 and may divide the first region A1 and the secondregion A2 of the display panel 100. For example, the fourth partitionmember 540 and the fifth partition member 550 may separate the firstvibration sound PVS1 and the second vibration sound PVS2 respectivelygenerated by the first and second vibration arrays 270 and 270′. Forexample, the fourth partition member 540 may prevent a vibration,generated by the first vibration array 270 in the first region A1 of thedisplay panel 100, from being transferred to the second region A2 of thedisplay panel 100, or may prevent a vibration, generated by the secondvibration array 270′ in the second region A2 of the display panel 100,from being transferred to the first region A1 of the display panel 100.Therefore, the fourth partition member 540 and the fifth partitionmember 550 may attenuate or absorb a vibration of the display panel 100at a center of the display panel 100, and thus, may prevent a sound ofthe first region A1 from being transferred to the second region A2 andmay prevent a sound of the second region A2 from being transferred tothe first region A1. Therefore, the fourth partition member 540 and thefifth partition member 550 may separate a left sound and a right sound,thereby more enhancing a sound output characteristic of the displayapparatus. Accordingly, the display apparatus according to an embodimentof the present disclosure may output a two-channel stereo sound to aforward region with respect to the display panel 100 on the basis ofseparation of the left and right sounds by the fourth partition member540 and the fifth partition member 550.

For example, the fourth partition member 540 and the fifth partitionmember 550 may be configured to include a material having an elasticforce that enables compression to be made to some degree. For example,the fourth partition member 540 and the fifth partition member 550 mayinclude polyurethane, polyolefin, and/or the like, but embodiments arenot limited thereto. As another example, the fourth partition member 540and the fifth partition member 550 may include a single-sided tape, asingle-sided foam pad, a double-sided tape, a double-sided foam tape, ora double-sided foam pad, and/or the like, but embodiments are notlimited thereto.

As another example, one of the fourth partition member 540 and the fifthpartition member 550 may be omitted. For example, when the fifthpartition member 550 of the fourth and fifth partition members 540 and550 is omitted, the fourth partition member 540 may be between thedisplay panel 100 and the supporting member 300 to correspond to a rearcenter line CL of the display panel 100. For example, even when one ofthe fourth partition member 540 and the fifth partition member 550 isbetween the first vibration array 270 and the second vibration arrays270′, a left sound and a right sound may be separated from each other.

Therefore, the fourth and fifth partition members 540 and 550 mayseparate a left sound and a right sound to further enhance a soundoutput characteristic of the display apparatus. A display apparatusincluding the fourth partition member 540 and/or the fifth partitionmember 550 may separate the left and right sounds by using the fourthpartition member 540 and/or the fifth partition member 550 to output atwo-channel stereo sound to the forward region in front of the displaypanel 100.

The partition 500 according to an embodiment of the present disclosuremay further include a third partition member 530 between the displaypanel 100 and the supporting member 300. For example, the thirdpartition member 530 may be disposed along a space between a rear edge(or a rear periphery) of the display panel 100 and a front edge (or afront periphery) of the supporting member 300 to surround all of thefirst and second vibration modules 200-1 and 200-2. The third partitionmember 530 may be referred to as an “edge partition,” a “sound blockingmember,” an “edge enclosure,” or a “baffle,” but the term is not limitedthereto. For example, the third partition member 530 may be adjacent toor in contact with the panel connection member 400 illustrated in FIG. 2, and may be surrounded by the panel connection member 400. As anotherexample, the third partition member 530 may be integrated as one bodywith the panel connection member 400.

The third partition member 530 may provide first to third air gaps AG1to AG3 between the display panel 100 and the supporting member 300,along with the fourth and fifth partition members 540 and 550. Forexample, each of the first to third air gaps AG1 to AG3 may be referredto as a “vibration space,” a “sound pressure space,” a “sound box,” a“sound part,” a “resonance box,” or a “resonance part,” but the term isnot limited thereto.

The first air gap AG1 may be provided in the first region A1 of thedisplay panel 100 surrounded by using the fourth partition member 540and the third partition member 530 disposed in the first region A1 ofthe display panel 100.

The second air gap AG2 may be provided in the second region A2 of thedisplay panel 100 surrounded by using the fifth partition member 550 andthe third partition member 530 disposed in the second region A2 of thedisplay panel 100.

The third air gap AG3 may be provided in a third region (e.g., a centerregion) of the display panel 100 surrounded by using the fourth andfifth partition members 540 and 550 and the third partition member 530.For example, the third air gap AG3 may be provided between the secondair gap AG2 and the first air gap AG1. For example, the third air gapAG3 may be provided between the second air gap AG2 and the first air gapAG1 to include the rear center line CL of the display panel 100. Thethird air gap AG3 may be referred to as a “sound separation space,” a“sound blocking space,” or a “sound interference prevention space,” butthe term is not limited thereto. The third air gap AG3 may spatiallyseparate the first air gap AG1 from the second air gap AG2. Thus, thethird air gap AG3 may reduce or prevent a resonance phenomenon or aninterference phenomenon that may occur in each of the first air gap AG1and the second air gap AG2, and may correspond to a certain frequencyband.

The first vibration array 270 may be surrounded by the fourth partitionmember 540 and the third partition member 530 providing the first airgap AG1. The second vibration array 270′ may be surrounded by the fifthpartition member 550 and the third partition member 530 providing thesecond air gap AG2.

When one of the fourth and fifth partition members 540 and 550 isomitted, the third air gap AG3 may be omitted.

Therefore, the third partition member 530 may surround an area betweenthe display panel 100 and the supporting member 300, and mayindividually surround each of the first and second vibration arrays 270and 270′, along with the fourth and fifth partition members 540 and 550,to secure a vibration space of each of the first and second vibrationarrays 270 and 270′. Thus, the third partition member 530 may enhance asound pressure characteristic of left and right sounds, and may reduceor prevent sound or a sound pressure from being leaked to the outsidethrough the side surface between the display panel 100 and thesupporting member 300, thereby further enhancing a sound outputcharacteristic of the display apparatus.

The partition 500 according to an embodiment of the present disclosuremay further include a first partition member 510 and a second partitionmember 520. For example, the first partition member 510 may surround thefirst vibration array 270. The second partition member 520 may surroundthe second vibration array 270′. For example, the first partition member510 may surround the first vibration module 200-1 and the thirdvibration module 200-3. The second partition member 520 may surround thesecond vibration module 200-2 and the fourth vibration module 200-4.

The first partition member 510 may be disposed between the display panel100 and the supporting member 300 to correspond to the first air gapAG1, and may surround the first vibration array 270. For example, thefirst partition member 510 may be disposed between the display panel 100and the supporting member 300 so as to overlap the first air gap AG1,and may surround the first vibration array 270. The first partitionmember 510 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may havea rectangular shape surrounding the first vibration array 270, butembodiments are not limited thereto. For example, the first partitionmember 510 may have a shape that is the same as or different from awhole shape of the first vibration array 270. For example, the firstpartition member 510 may have a shape that is the same as or differentfrom a whole shape of the first vibration module 200-1 and the thirdvibration module 200-3. For example, when the first partition member 510has a rectangular shape, the first partition member 510 may have arectangular shape having a size that is relatively greater than that ofthe first vibration array 270. For example, the first partition member510 may have a rectangular shape having a size that is relativelygreater than that of the first vibration module 200-1 and the thirdvibration module 200-3. As another example, the first partition member510 may have a circular shape surrounding the first vibration array 270.

The first partition member 510 may limit (or define) a vibration region(e.g., a vibration area) of the display panel 100 based on the firstvibration array 270. For example, the first partition member 510 maylimit (or define) a vibration region (e.g., a vibration area) of thedisplay panel 100 based on the first vibration module 200-1 and thethird vibration module 200-3. For example, in the first region A1 of thedisplay panel 100, as a size of the first partition member 510increases, a vibration region of the first region A1 may increase. Thus,a low-pitched sound band characteristic of a left sound may be enhanced.As another example, in the first region A1 of the display panel 100, asa size of the first partition member 510 decreases, the vibration regionof the first region A1 may decrease. Thus, a high-pitched sound bandcharacteristic of the left sound may be enhanced. Accordingly, a size ofthe first partition member 510 may be set based on a desiredcharacteristic of a sound band, based on a vibration of the displaypanel 100.

The second partition member 520 may be between the display panel 100 andthe supporting member 300 to correspond to the second air gap AG2, andmay surround the second vibration array 270′. For example, the secondpartition member 520 may be disposed between the display panel 100 andthe supporting member 300 so as to overlap the second air gap AG2, andmay surround the second vibration array 270′.

The second partition member 520 according to an embodiment of thepresent disclosure may have the same shape as that of the firstpartition member 510 for symmetry of a left sound and a right sound. Forexample, the first partition member 510 may have a symmetrical structurewith the second partition member 520 with respect to the rear centerline CL of the display panel 100, but embodiments are not limitedthereto. The shape of the second partition member 520 is the same asthat described for the first partition member 510, thus, descriptionrelevant thereto is omitted.

The second partition member 520 may limit (or define) a vibration region(e.g., a vibration area) of the display panel 100 based on the secondvibration array 270′. For example, the second partition member 520 maylimit (or define) a vibration region (e.g., a vibration area) of thedisplay panel 100 based on the second vibration module 200-2 and thefourth vibration module 200-4. For example, in the second region A2 ofthe display panel 100, as a size of the second partition member 520increases, a vibration region of the second region A2 may increase.Thus, the low-pitched sound band characteristic of the right sound maybe enhanced. As another example, in the second region A2 of the displaypanel 100, as a size of the second partition member 520 decreases, thevibration region of the second region A2 may decrease. Thus, thehigh-pitched sound band characteristic of the right sound may beenhanced. Accordingly, a size of the second partition member 520 may beset based on a desired characteristic of a sound band, based on avibration of the display panel 100.

The first and second partition members 510 and 520 may limit a vibrationregion (e.g., a vibration area) of each of the first and secondvibration arrays 270 and 270′. Thus, first and second partition members510 and 520 may enhance lateral symmetricity of a left sound and a rightsound each generated based on a vibration of the display panel 100, andmay optimize a sound pressure characteristic and a sound reproductionband of each of the left and right sounds. As another example, whenfirst and second partition members 510 and 520 are provided, the thirdpartition member 530 may be omitted. As another example, when first andsecond partition members 510 and 520 are provided, one of the third tofifth partition members 530, 540, and 550 may be omitted.

For example, the first to third partition members 510, 520, and 530 maybe configured to include a material having an elastic force that enablescompression to be made to some degree. For example, the first to thirdpartition members 510, 520, and 530 may include polyurethane,polyolefin, and/or the like, but embodiments are not limited thereto. Asanother example, the first to third partition members 510, 520, and 530may include a single-sided tape, a single-sided foam pad, a double-sidedtape, a double-sided foam tape, or a double-sided foam pad, and/or thelike, but embodiments are not limited thereto.

Therefore, when the display apparatus according to an embodiment of thepresent disclosure includes the partition 500, the sound pressurecharacteristic and the sound reproduction band of each of the left andright sounds may be improved or optimized. For example, the displayapparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure mayinclude at least one of the fourth and fifth partition members 540 and550. As another example, the display apparatus according to the presentembodiment may include the third partition member 530 and at least oneof the fourth and fifth partition members 540 and 550. As anotherexample, the display apparatus according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure may include the first to third partition members 510, 520,and 530. As another example, the display apparatus according to anembodiment of the present disclosure may include the first and secondpartition members 510 and 520. As another example, the display apparatusaccording to an embodiment of the present disclosure may include thefirst to fifth partition members 510 to 550.

Accordingly, the display apparatus according to another embodiment ofthe present disclosure may output, by the first and second vibrationarrays 270 and 270′, a left sound and a right sound to a forward regionFD in front of the display panel 100 to provide a stereo sound to auser. Also, the display apparatus according to another embodiment of thepresent disclosure may separate the left and right sounds by thepartition 500 to output a two-channel stereo sound to the forward regionFD in front of the display panel 100.

FIGS. 16A and 16B illustrate a display apparatus including a vibrationdevice according to another embodiment of the present disclosure.

With reference to FIGS. 16A and 16B, the vibration device according toanother embodiment of the present disclosure may include a 1-1^(th)vibration array 600 and a 2-1^(th) vibration array 700.

The 1-1^(th) vibration array 600 according to an embodiment of thepresent disclosure may be disposed in a first region A1 of the displaypanel 100. For example, the 1-1^(th) vibration array 600 may be disposedin the first region A1 of the display panel 100 and may include aplurality of first vibration modules. The plurality of first vibrationmodules may include N (where N is a natural number of 2 or more) or morefirst vibration modules. For example, the 1-1^(th) vibration array 600may include a 1-1^(th) vibration module 610, a 1-2^(th) vibration module620, a 1-3^(th) vibration module 630, and a 1-4^(th) vibration module640. However, embodiments of the present disclosure are not limitedthereto, and the 1-1^(th) vibration array 600 may include the 1-1^(th)vibration module 610 and the 1-2^(th) vibration module 620.

For example, the 1-1th vibration array 600 may vibrate the first regionA1 of the display panel 100, and thus, may generate a first hapticfeedback or a first vibration sound in the first region A1 of thedisplay panel 100. When the 1-1^(th) vibration array 600 includes N ormore vibration modules, a display apparatus may be provided where the1-1^(th) vibration array 600 vibrates the display panel 100 to output anenhanced first vibration sound or an enhanced first haptic feedback.Also, the 1-1^(th) vibration array 600 may include a plurality ofvibration modules and may be implemented as one film, and thus, athickness thereof may not increase despite a vibration array whichfurther includes a plurality of vibration modules, thereby providing adisplay apparatus having an enhanced sound output characteristic or anenhanced haptic feedback characteristic. For example, when the 1-1^(th)vibration array 600 includes a plurality of vibration modules and isimplemented as one film, a manufacturing process may be easier than anexample where one large vibration module is manufactured. For example,in a case where a vibration module is manufactured based on a certainsize, a manufacturing process apparatus for manufacturing a vibrationmodule based on the certain size may be needed, and due to this, theremay be a problem where a manufacturing process apparatus based on a sizeof a vibration module is needed. Accordingly, a plurality of vibrationmodules may be manufactured as a plurality of vibration arrays on thebasis of a desired size, and thus, a vibration module may bemanufactured without changing a manufacturing process of apparatus and adegree of freedom in a manufacturing process of a vibration module maybe enhanced.

The 2-1^(th) vibration array 700 according to an embodiment of thepresent disclosure may be disposed in a second region A2 of the displaypanel 100. For example, the 2-1^(th) vibration array 700 may be disposedin the second region A2 of the display panel 100 and may include aplurality of second vibration modules. The plurality of second vibrationmodules may include N (where N is a natural number of 2 or more) or moresecond vibration modules. For example, the 2-1^(th) vibration array 700may include a 2-1^(th) vibration module 710, a 2-2^(th) vibration module720, a 2-3^(th) vibration module 730, and a 2-4^(th) vibration module740. However, the present embodiment is not limited thereto, and the2-1^(th) vibration array 700 may include the 2-1^(th) vibration module710 and the 2-2^(th) vibration module 720.

For example, the 2-1^(th) vibration array 700 may vibrate the secondregion A2 of the display panel 100, and thus, may generate a secondhaptic feedback or a second vibration sound in the second region A2 ofthe display panel 100. When the 2-1^(th) vibration array 700 includes Nor more vibration modules, a display apparatus may be provided where the2-1^(th) vibration array 700 vibrates the display panel 100 to output anenhanced second vibration sound or an enhanced second haptic feedback.Also, the 2-1^(th) vibration array 700 may include a plurality ofvibration modules and may be implemented as one film, and thus, athickness thereof may not increase despite a vibration array whichfurther includes a plurality of vibration modules, thereby providing adisplay apparatus having an enhanced sound output characteristic or anenhanced haptic feedback characteristic.

The 1-1^(th) vibration array 600 and the 2-1^(th) vibration array 700may be disposed adjacent to an edge (or periphery) of the display panel100. For example, the 1-1^(th) vibration array 600 and the 2-1^(th)vibration array 700 may be disposed close to the edge of the displaypanel 100 with respect to a first direction (or an X direction) of thedisplay panel 100. For example, the 1-1^(th) vibration array 600 and the2-1^(th) vibration array 700 may be disposed adjacent to both edges ofthe display panel 100. For example, the 1-1^(th) vibration array 600 andthe 2-1^(th) vibration array 700 may be disposed close to the both edges(or peripheries) of the display panel 100 with respect to the firstdirection (or the X direction) of the display panel 100. For example,the 1-1^(th) vibration array 600 may be disposed adjacent to a leftportion of the first region A1. For example, the 1-1^(th) vibrationarray 600 may be disposed close to a left portion of the display panel100 in the first region A1. For example, the 2-1^(th) vibration array700 may be disposed adjacent to a right portion of the second region A2.For example, the 2-1^(th) vibration array 700 may be disposed close to aright portion of the display panel 100 in the second region A2. In thiscase, each of the 1-1^(th) vibration array 600 and the 2-1^(th)vibration array 700 may output a sound having an enhanced high-pitchedsound band. For example, the 1-1^(th) vibration array 600 and the2-1^(th) vibration array 700 may be bilaterally (or left and right)symmetric, and thus, a sound of the first region A1 and a sound of thesecond region A2 may be output to be symmetric.

The vibration device according to another embodiment of the presentdisclosure may further include a 1-2^(th) vibration array 800 and a2-2^(th) vibration array 900.

The 1-2^(th) vibration array 800 according to an embodiment of thepresent disclosure may be disposed in the first region A1 of the displaypanel 100. For example, the 1-2^(th) vibration array 800 may be disposedin the first region A1 of the display panel 100 and may include aplurality of third vibration modules. The plurality of third vibrationmodules may include N (where N is a natural number of 2 or more) or morethird vibration modules. For example, the 1-2^(th) vibration array 800may include a 3-1^(th) vibration module 810, a 3-2^(th) vibration module820, a 3-3^(th) vibration module 830, and a 3-4^(th) vibration module840. However, the present embodiment is not limited thereto, and the1-2^(th) vibration array 800 may include the 3-1^(th) vibration module810 and the 3-2^(th) vibration module 820.

For example, the 1-2^(th) vibration array 800 may vibrate the firstregion A1 of the display panel 100, and thus, may generate a firsthaptic feedback or a first vibration sound in the first region A1 of thedisplay panel 100. When the 1-2^(th) vibration array 800 includes N ormore vibration modules, a display apparatus may be provided where the1-2^(th) vibration array 800 vibrates the display panel 100 to output amore enhanced first vibration sound or a more enhanced first hapticfeedback. Also, the 1-2^(th) vibration array 800 may include a pluralityof vibration modules and may be implemented as one film (or one-piecefilm), and thus, a thickness thereof may not increase despite avibration array which further includes a plurality of vibration modules,thereby providing a display apparatus having an enhanced sound outputcharacteristic or an enhanced haptic feedback characteristic.

For example, the 1-1^(th) vibration array 600 and the 1-2^(th) vibrationarray 800 may be alternately (or alternatively) disposed or in adiagonal direction. For example, the 1-1^(th) vibration array 600 may bedisposed at a left upper portion with respect to the first direction (orthe X direction) of the display panel 100. The 1-2^(th) vibration array800 may be disposed at a left lower portion with respect to the firstdirection (or the X direction) of the display panel 100. For example,the 1-1^(th) vibration array 600 may be disposed adjacent to a leftportion of the first region A1, and the 1-2^(th) vibration array 800 maybe disposed adjacent to a right portion of the first region A1. Forexample, the 1-1^(th) vibration array 600 may be disposed adjacent to anedge (or periphery) of the display panel 100, and the 1-2^(th) vibrationarray 800 may be disposed adjacent to a center of the display panel 100.For example, the 1-1^(th) vibration array 600 may be disposed close tothe edge of the display panel 100, and the 1-2^(th) vibration array 800may be disposed close to the center of the display panel 100. Becausethe 1-1^(th) vibration array 600 and the 1-2^(th) vibration array 800are alternately (or alternatively) disposed or in the diagonaldirection, a vibration area of the first region A1 of the display panel100 may increase, thereby more enhancing a sound output characteristic.

The 2-2^(th) vibration array 900 according to an embodiment of thepresent disclosure may be disposed in the second region A2 of thedisplay panel 100. For example, the 2-2^(th) vibration array 900 may bedisposed in the second region A2 of the display panel 100 and mayinclude a plurality of fourth vibration modules. The plurality of fourthvibration modules may include N (where N is a natural number of 2 ormore) or more fourth vibration modules. For example, the 2-2^(th)vibration array 900 may include a 4-1^(th) vibration module 910, a4-2^(th) vibration module 920, a 4-3^(th) vibration module 930, and a4-4^(th) vibration module 940. However, embodiments of the presentdisclosure are not limited thereto, and the 2-2^(th) vibration array 900may include the 4-1^(th) vibration module 910 and the 4-2^(th) vibrationmodule 920.

For example, the 2-2^(th) vibration array 900 may vibrate the secondregion A2 of the display panel 100, and thus, may generate a secondhaptic feedback or a second vibration sound in the second region A2 ofthe display panel 100. When the 2-2^(th) vibration array 900 includes Nor more vibration modules, a display apparatus may be provided where the2-1^(th) vibration array 700 vibrates the display panel 100 to output amore enhanced second vibration sound or a more enhanced second hapticfeedback. Also, the 2-2^(th) vibration array 900 may include a pluralityof vibration modules and may be implemented as one film (or one-piecefilm), and thus, a thickness thereof may not increase despite avibration array which further includes a plurality of vibration modules,thereby providing a display apparatus having an enhanced sound outputcharacteristic or an enhanced haptic feedback characteristic.

The 2-1^(th) vibration array 700 and the 2-2^(th) vibration array 900may be alternatively (or alternately) disposed or in a diagonaldirection. For example, the 2-1^(th) vibration array 700 may be disposedat a right upper portion with respect to the first direction (or the Xdirection) of the display panel 100. The 2-2^(th) vibration array 900may be disposed at a right lower portion with respect to the firstdirection (or the X direction) of the display panel 100. For example,the 2-1^(th) vibration array 700 may be disposed adjacent to a rightportion of the second region A2, and the 2-2^(th) vibration array 900may be disposed adjacent to a left portion of the second region A2. Forexample, the 2-1^(th) vibration array 700 may be disposed adjacent tothe edge (or periphery) of the display panel 100, and the 2-2^(th)vibration array 900 may be disposed adjacent to the center of thedisplay panel 100. For example, the 2-1^(th) vibration array 700 may bedisposed close to the edge of the display panel 100, and the 2-2^(th)vibration array 900 may be disposed close to the center of the displaypanel 100. Because the 2-1^(th) vibration array 700 and the 2-2^(th)vibration array 900 are alternatively (or alternately) disposed or inthe diagonal direction, a vibration area of the second region A2 of thedisplay panel 100 may increase, thereby more enhancing a sound outputcharacteristic.

Each of a plurality of vibration modules in each of the 1-1^(th)vibration array 600, the 1-2^(th) vibration array 800, the 2-1^(th)vibration array 700, and the 2-2^(th) vibration array 900 may be apiezoelectric composite including a first portion and a second portion.For example, each of the plurality of vibration modules included in eachof the 1-1^(th) vibration array 600, the 1-2^(th) vibration array 800,the 2-1^(th) vibration array 700, and the 2-2^(th) vibration array 900may be the piezoelectric composite which includes a plurality of firstportions and a second portion disposed between the plurality of firstportions. For example, each of the plurality of vibration modulesincluded in each of the 1-1^(th) vibration array 600, the 1-2^(th)vibration array 800, the 2-1^(th) vibration array 700, and the 2-2^(th)vibration array 900 may be one piezoelectric composite which includes aplurality of first portions and a second portion disposed between theplurality of first portions.

With reference to FIGS. 16A and 16B, in each of the plurality ofvibration modules included in each of the 1-1^(th) vibration array 600,the 1-2^(th) vibration array 800, the 2-1^(th) vibration array 700, andthe 2-2^(th) vibration array 900, an arrangement direction of a firstportion and an arrangement direction of a second portion may be thesame, but the present embodiment is not limited thereto. For example, anarrangement direction of a first portion and an arrangement direction ofa second portion in a plurality of vibration modules may be the same asa lengthwise direction of the display panel 100. For example, anarrangement direction of a first portion and an arrangement direction ofa second portion in a plurality of vibration modules may be the same asa second direction (or a Y direction) vertical to the first direction(or the X direction) of the display panel 100.

An arrangement direction of a first portion and an arrangement directionof a second portion in of the 1-1^(th) vibration array 600 may be thesame as an arrangement direction of a first portion and an arrangementdirection of a second portion in the 1-2^(th) vibration array 800. Forexample, an arrangement direction of a first portion and an arrangementdirection of a second portion in a plurality of first vibration modulesand a plurality of third vibration modules may be the same as thelengthwise direction of the display panel 100. An arrangement directionof a first portion and an arrangement direction of a second portionincluded in the 2-1^(th) vibration array 700 may be the same as anarrangement direction of a first portion and an arrangement direction ofa second portion in the 2-2^(th) vibration array 900. For example, anarrangement direction of a first portion and an arrangement direction ofa second portion in a plurality of second vibration modules and aplurality of fourth vibration modules may be the same as the lengthwisedirection of the display panel 100.

For example, in a piezoelectric composite of each of the 1-1^(th)vibration module 610, the 1-2^(th) vibration module 620, the 1-3^(th)vibration module 630, and the 1-4^(th) vibration module 640 included inthe 1-1^(th) vibration array 600, an arrangement direction of a firstportion of the piezoelectric composite and an arrangement direction of asecond portion of the piezoelectric composite may be the same as thelengthwise direction of the display panel 100. For example, in apiezoelectric composite of each of the 2-1^(th) vibration module 710,the 2-2^(th) vibration module 720, the 2-3^(th) vibration module 730,and the 2-4^(th) vibration module 740 included in the 2-1^(th) vibrationarray 700, an arrangement direction of a first portion of thepiezoelectric composite and an arrangement direction of a second portionof the piezoelectric composite may be the same as the lengthwisedirection of the display panel 100. For example, in a piezoelectriccomposite of each of the 3-1^(th) vibration module 810, the 3-2^(th)vibration module 820, the 3-3^(th) vibration module 830, and the3-4^(th) vibration module 840 included in the 1-2^(th) vibration array800, an arrangement direction of a first portion of the piezoelectriccomposite and an arrangement direction of a second portion of thepiezoelectric composite may be the same as the lengthwise direction ofthe display panel 100. For example, in a piezoelectric composite of eachof the 4-1^(th) vibration module 910, the 4-2^(th) vibration module 920,the 4-3^(th) vibration module 930, and the 4-4^(th) vibration module 940included in the 2-2^(th) vibration array 900, an arrangement directionof a first portion of the piezoelectric composite and an arrangementdirection of a second portion of the piezoelectric composite may be thesame as the lengthwise direction of the display panel 100.

With reference to FIG. 16B, the 2-1^(th) vibration array 700 and the2-2^(th) vibration array 900 may be disposed to be asymmetric with the1-1^(th) vibration array 600 and the 1-2^(th) vibration array 800. The1-1^(th) vibration array 600 may be disposed at a left portion of thedisplay panel 100 with respect to a first direction (or an X direction)of the display panel 100, and the 2-1^(th) vibration array 700 may bedisposed at a center of the display panel 100 with respect to the firstdirection (or the X direction) of the display panel 100. For example,the 1-2^(th) vibration array 800 and the 2-2^(th) vibration array 900may be disposed adjacent the 1-1^(th) vibration array 600 and the2-1^(th) vibration array 700. For example, the 1-1^(th) vibration array600 may be disposed adjacent to an edge (or periphery) of the displaypanel 100 with respect to the first direction (or the X direction) ofthe display panel 100, and the 2-1^(th) vibration array 700 may bedisposed adjacent to the center of the display panel 100 with respect tothe first direction (or the X direction) of the display panel 100. Forexample, the 1-1^(th) vibration array 600 may be disposed close to theleft portion of the display panel 100 with respect to the firstdirection (or the X direction) of the display panel 100, and the2-1^(th) vibration array 700 may be disposed close to the center of thedisplay panel 100 with respect to the first direction (or the Xdirection) of the display panel 100. The 1-2^(th) vibration array 800may be disposed at the center of the display panel 100 with respect tothe first direction (or the X direction) of the display panel 100, andthe 2-2^(th) vibration array 900 may be disposed at a right portion ofthe display panel 100 with respect to the first direction (or the Xdirection) of the display panel 100. For example, the 1-2^(th) vibrationarray 800 may be disposed adjacent to the center of the display panel100 with respect to the first direction (or the X direction) of thedisplay panel 100, and the 2-2^(th) vibration array 900 may be disposedadjacent to the edge of the display panel 100 with respect to the firstdirection (or the X direction) of the display panel 100. For example,the 1-2^(th) vibration array 800 may be disposed close to the center ofthe display panel 100 with respect to the first direction (or the Xdirection) of the display panel 100, and the 2-2^(th) vibration array900 may be disposed close to the right portion of the display panel 100with respect to the first direction (or the X direction) of the displaypanel 100. In this case, the 1-1^(th) vibration array 600 and the2-2^(th) vibration array 900 may output a sound of a middle-high-pitchedsound band, and the 1-2^(th) vibration array 800 and the 2-1^(th)vibration array 700 may output a sound of a middle-low-pitched soundband.

The display apparatus according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure may further include a partition 500. For example, thepartition 500 may include a fourth partition member 540 and a fifthpartition member 550, which are disposed between the 1-1^(th) vibrationarray 600 and the 1-2^(th) vibration array 800 and the 2-1^(th)vibration array 700 and the 2-2^(th) vibration array 900. For example,the fourth partition member 540 and the fifth partition member 550 mayprevent a vibration, generated by each of the 1-1^(th) vibration array600 and the 1-2^(th) vibration array 800 in the first region A1 of thedisplay panel 100, from being transferred to the second region A2 of thedisplay panel 100, or may prevent a vibration, generated by each of the2-1^(th) vibration array 700 and the 2-2^(th) vibration array 900 in thesecond region A2 of the display panel 100, from being transferred to thefirst region A1 of the display panel 100.

The partition 500 according to an embodiment of the present disclosuremay further include a third partition member 530 disposed between thedisplay panel 100 and a supporting member 300. The third partitionmember 530 may provide first to third air gaps AG1 to AG3 between thedisplay panel 100 and the supporting member 300 along with the fourthpartition member 540 and the fifth partition member 550.

The partition 500 according to an embodiment of the present disclosuremay further include a first partition member 510 and a second partitionmember 520. For example, the first partition member 510 may surround the1-1^(th) vibration array 600 and the 1-2^(th) vibration array 800. Forexample, the second partition member 520 may surround the 2-1^(th)vibration array 700 and the 2-2^(th) vibration array 900. The first tofifth partition members are as described with reference to FIG. 15 , andthus, their detailed descriptions are omitted. The descriptions of FIGS.16A and 16B may be identically applied to FIGS. 17A to 23 .

Therefore, a vibration device may be implemented with a vibration arrayincluding a plurality of vibration modules, and thus, a sound outputcharacteristic of a vibration device may be enhanced. However, when avibration device is configured with a vibration array including aplurality of vibration modules, the inventors have recognized that asound pressure level is reduced in a specific frequency. For example,the inventors have recognized that a sound pressure level is reduced inthe middle-pitched sound band. The inventors have performed variousexperiments for analyzing a cause where a sound pressure level isreduced in the middle-pitched sound band. Through the variousexperiments, the inventors have recognized that resonance or reverseresonance occurs in a boundary between a plurality of vibration modules.The inventors have recognized that a sound pressure level is reduced ina specific frequency due to resonance or reverse resonance. For example,the inventors have recognized that resonance or reverse resonance occursin a center portion between a plurality of vibration modules, and due tothis, a sound pressure level is reduced. For example, the inventors haverecognized that resonance or reverse resonance occurs in a centerportion of a vibration array where a plurality of vibration modules isdisposed. The inventors have performed an experiment for decreasing aninterval between a plurality of vibration modules, so as to reduce areduction in a sound pressure level caused by resonance or reverseresonance. However, the inventors have recognized that it is difficultto perform a process of placing a plurality of vibration modules, anddue to this, it is difficult to decrease an interval between a pluralityof vibration modules. The inventors have placed an adhesive, such aspolyurethane or polyolefin, at a boundary between a plurality ofvibration modules. Because the adhesive does not control resonance orreverse resonance at the boundary between the plurality of vibrationmodules, the inventors have performed various experiments forimplementing a material for controlling resonance or reverse resonance.This will be described below.

FIGS. 17A and 17B illustrate a vibration device according to anotherembodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 17C is a cross-sectional viewtaken along line illustrated in FIG. 17A.

With reference to FIGS. 17A and 17B, the vibration device according toanother embodiment of the present disclosure may include a 1-1^(th)vibration array 600 and a 2-1^(th) vibration array 700, which aredisposed on a rear surface of the display panel 100. For example, the1-1^(th) vibration array 600 may include a 1-1^(th) vibration module610, a 1-2^(th) vibration module 620, a 1-3^(th) vibration module 630,and a 1-4^(th) vibration module 640. However, the present embodiment isnot limited thereto, and the 1-1^(th) vibration array 600 may includethe 1-1^(th) vibration module 610 and the 1-2^(th) vibration module 620.For example, the 2-1^(th) vibration array 700 may include a 2-1^(th)vibration module 710, a 2-2^(th) vibration module 720, a 2-3^(th)vibration module 730, and a 2-4^(th) vibration module 740. However,embodiments of the present disclosure are not limited thereto, and the2-1^(th) vibration array 700 may include the 2-1^(th) vibration module710 and the 2-2^(th) vibration module 720. The vibration deviceaccording to another embodiment of the present disclosure may include a1-2^(th) vibration array 800 and a 2-2^(th) vibration array 900, whichare disposed on the rear surface of the display panel 100. For example,the 1-2^(th) vibration array 800 may include a 3-1^(th) vibration module810, a 3-2^(th) vibration module 820, a 3-3^(th) vibration module 830,and a 3-4^(th) vibration module 840. However, embodiments of the presentdisclosure are not limited thereto, and the 1-2^(th) vibration array 800may include the 3-1^(th) vibration module 810 and the 3-2^(th) vibrationmodule 820. For example, the 2-2^(th) vibration array 900 may include a4-1^(th) vibration module 910, a 4-2^(th) vibration module 920, a4-3^(th) vibration module 930, and a 4-4^(th) vibration module 940.However, embodiments of the present disclosure are not limited thereto,and the 2-2^(th) vibration array 900 may include the 4-1^(th) vibrationmodule 910 and the 4-2^(th) vibration module 920.

A plurality of vibration modules included in each of the 1-1^(th)vibration array 600, the 1-2^(th) vibration array 800, the 2-1^(th)vibration array 700, and the 2-2^(th) vibration array 900 according toan embodiment of the present disclosure may be one composite (orone-piece composite) which includes a plurality of first portions and asecond portion disposed between the plurality of first portions. Forexample, a plurality of second portions instead of the plurality offirst portions may be disposed at edges (or peripheries) of theplurality of vibration modules. In a case where the plurality of secondportions instead of the plurality of first portions are disposed at theedges of the plurality of vibration modules, a fragile characteristiccaused by the plurality of first portions may be complemented, and thereliability of a vibration module caused by a fragile characteristic maybe enhanced.

In the vibration device according to another embodiment of the presentdisclosure, a member may be disposed at a boundary between the 1-1^(th)vibration module 610 and the 1-2^(th) vibration module 620, fordecreasing a dip phenomenon or a degradation of sound quality occurringin a boundary region between the 1-1^(th) vibration module 610 and the1-2^(th) vibration module 620. For example, the member may block ordecrease a resonance frequency at a boundary portion between the1-1^(th) vibration module 610 and the 1-2^(th) vibration module 620.

The vibration device according to another embodiment of the presentdisclosure may further include a first pad member 1250-1 disposedbetween the 1-1^(th) vibration module 610 and the 1-2^(th) vibrationmodule 620. The first pad member 1250-1 may be configured to decrease areduction of a sound pressure level occurring in a boundary between the1-1^(th) vibration module 610 and the 1-2^(th) vibration module 620. Forexample, the vibration device may further include the first pad member1250-1 disposed at the boundary between the 1-1^(th) vibration module610 and the 1-2^(th) vibration module 620. The vibration device mayfurther include the first pad member 1250-1 disposed between the1-1^(th) vibration module 610, the 1-2^(th) vibration module 620, the1-3^(th) vibration module 630, and the 1-4^(th) vibration module 640.For example, the vibration device may further include the first padmember 1250-1 disposed at a boundary between the 1-1^(th) vibrationmodule 610, the 1-2^(th) vibration module 620, the 1-3th vibrationmodule 630, and the 1-4^(th) vibration module 640.

The vibration device according to another embodiment of the presentdisclosure may further include a second pad member 1250-2 disposedbetween the 2-1^(th) vibration module 710 and the 2-2^(th) vibrationmodule 720. For example, the vibration device may further include thesecond pad member 1250-2 disposed at a boundary between the 2-1^(th)vibration module 710 and the 2-2^(th) vibration module 720. Thevibration device may further include the second pad member 1250-2disposed between the 2-1^(th) vibration module 710, the 2-2^(th)vibration module 720, the 2-3^(th) vibration module 730, and the2-4^(th) vibration module 740. For example, the vibration device mayfurther include the second pad member 1250-2 disposed at a boundarybetween the 2-1^(th) vibration module 710, the 2-2^(th) vibration module720, the 2-3^(th) vibration module 730, and the 2-4^(th) vibrationmodule 740.

The vibration device according to another embodiment of the presentdisclosure may further include a third pad member 1250-3 disposedbetween the 3-1^(th) vibration module 810 and the 3-2^(th) vibrationmodule 820. For example, the vibration device may further include thethird pad member 1250-3 disposed at a boundary between the 3-1^(th)vibration module 810 and the 3-2^(th) vibration module 820. Thevibration device may further include the third pad member 1250-3disposed between the 3-1^(th) vibration module 810, the 3-2^(th)vibration module 820, the 3-3^(th) vibration module 830, and the3-4^(th) vibration module 840. For example, the vibration device mayfurther include the third pad member 1250-3 disposed at a boundarybetween the 3-1^(th) vibration module 810, the 3-2^(th) vibration module820, the 3-3^(th) vibration module 830, and the 3-4^(th) vibrationmodule 840.

The vibration device according to another embodiment of the presentdisclosure may further include a fourth pad member 1250-4 disposedbetween the 4-1^(th) vibration module 910 and the 4-2^(th) vibrationmodule 920. For example, the vibration device may further include thefourth pad member 1250-4 disposed at a boundary between the 4-1^(th)vibration module 910 and the 4-2^(th) vibration module 920. Thevibration device may further include the fourth pad member 1250-4disposed between the 4-1^(th) vibration module 910, the 4-2^(th)vibration module 920, the 4-3^(th) vibration module 930, and the4-4^(th) vibration module 940. For example, the vibration device mayfurther include the fourth pad member 1250-4 disposed at a boundarybetween the 4-1^(th) vibration module 910, the 4-2^(th) vibration module920, the 4-3^(th) vibration module 930, and the 9-4^(th) vibrationmodule 940.

A pad member may include a material for absorbing or controlling avibration. For example, when the pad member includes the same materialas that of a partition, the inventors have recognized that the padmember does not absorb or control a vibration. For example, the firstpad member 1250-1, the second pad member 1250-2, the third pad member1250-3, and the fourth pad member 1250-4 may include a material whichdiffers from that of the partition. For example, the first pad member1250-1, the second pad member 1250-2, the third pad member 1250-3, andthe fourth pad member 1250-4 may include one material of asilicone-based polymer, paraffin wax, and an acrylic polymer, butembodiments are not limited thereto. Each of the first pad member1250-1, the second pad member 1250-2, the third pad member 1250-3, andthe fourth pad member 1250-4 may be a resonance control pad, a gap pad,or a resonance controller, but the terms are not limited thereto. Also,the first pad member 1250-1 may decrease heat caused by a vibration ofthe 1-1^(th) vibration array 600. The second pad member 1250-2 maydecrease heat caused by a vibration of the 2-1^(th) vibration array 700.The third pad member 1250-3 may decrease heat caused by a vibration ofthe 1-2^(th) vibration array 800. The fourth pad member 1250-4 maydecrease heat caused by a vibration of the 2-2^(th) vibration array 900.Therefore, because the pad member is provided between a plurality ofvibration modules, a reduction in a sound pressure level in a specificfrequency may decrease, and a heat dissipation effect of decreasing heatcaused by vibrations of the plurality of vibration modules may increase.As another example, a heat dissipation member may be further disposedbetween the display panel 100 and the vibration device. For example, theheat dissipation member may be disposed on the rear surface of thedisplay panel 100. For example, a size of each of the first to fourthpad members 1250-1 to 1250-4 may be the same as or different from thatof a boundary region between the plurality of vibration modules.

With reference to FIG. 17C, the 1-1^(th) vibration array 600 accordingto an embodiment of the present disclosure may include the 1-1^(th)vibration module 610 and the 1-2^(th) vibration module 620. Hereinafter,the 1-1^(th) vibration array 600 will be described for example, and thefollowing descriptions may be identically applied to the 1-2^(th)vibration array 800, the 2-1^(th) vibration array 700, and the 2-2^(th)vibration array 900.

For example, the 1-1^(th) vibration module 610 may include apiezoelectric composite 1200, a first electrode 231, and a secondelectrode 232. The first electrode 231 may be disposed on thepiezoelectric composite 1200. The second electrode 232 may be disposedunder the piezoelectric composite 1200. However, the present embodimentis not limited thereto, and the first electrode 231 may be disposedunder the piezoelectric composite 1200 and the second electrode 232 maybe disposed on the piezoelectric composite 1200. For example, the1-2^(th) vibration module 620 may include a piezoelectric composite1200′, a first electrode 231′, and a second electrode 232′. The firstelectrode 231′ may be disposed on the piezoelectric composite 1200′. Thesecond electrode 232′ may be disposed under the piezoelectric composite1200′. However, the present embodiment is not limited thereto, and thefirst electrode 231′ may be disposed under the piezoelectric composite1200′ and the second electrode 232′ may be disposed on the piezoelectriccomposite 1200′. For example, the first electrodes 231 and 231′ and thesecond electrodes 232 and 232′ may be electrodes for applying a soundsignal to the 1-1^(th) vibration module 610 and the 1-2^(th) vibrationmodule 620. The piezoelectric composite 1200′, the first electrode 231′,and the second electrode 232′ may be the same as the piezoelectriccomposite layer PCL, the first electrode 230, and the second electrode240 described above with reference to FIGS. 1 to 12 , and thus, theirdetailed descriptions are omitted.

The 1-1^(th) vibration array 600 according to an embodiment of thepresent disclosure may further include a first protection layer 241 anda second protection layer 242. For example, the first protection layer241 and the second protection layer 242 may be referred to as a“passivation layer,” a “covering layer,” “buffering layer,” a“protection member,” a “passivation member,” a “covering member,” or a“buffering member,” but the term is not limited thereto.

The first protection layer 241 may a first protection layer, and thesecond protection layer 242 may a second protection layer.

The first protection layer 241 may be disposed on the 1-1^(th) vibrationmodule 610 and the 1-2^(th) vibration module 620. For example, the firstprotection layer 241 may be disposed on the first electrodes 231 and231′. The first protection layer 241 may be disposed on the firstelectrode 231 disposed on the 1-1^(th) vibration module 610 and thefirst electrode 231′ disposed on the 1-2^(th) vibration module 620. Thefirst protection layer 241 may protect the first electrode 231 disposedon the 1-1^(th) vibration module 610 and the first electrode 231′disposed on the 1-2^(th) vibration module 620. For example, the firstprotection layer 241 may include polyimide (PI) orpolyethyleneterephthalate (PET), but is not limited thereto.

The second protection layer 242 may be disposed under the 1-1^(th)vibration module 610 and the 1-2^(th) vibration module 620. For example,the second protection layer 242 may be disposed under the secondelectrodes 232 and 232′. The second protection layer 242 may be disposedunder the second electrode 232 disposed under the 1-1^(th) vibrationmodule 610 and the second electrode 232′ disposed under the 1-2^(th)vibration module 620. The second protection layer 242 may protect thesecond electrode 232 disposed under the 1-1^(th) vibration module 610and the second electrode 232′ disposed under the 1-2^(th) vibrationmodule 620. For example, the second protection layer 242 may include PIor PET, but is not limited thereto. The first protection layer 241 andthe second protection layer 242 may be disposed to surround the 1-1^(th)vibration module 610 and the 1-2^(th) vibration module 620. For example,a size of each of the first protection layer 241 and the secondprotection layer 242 may be greater than or equal to that of each of the1-1^(th) vibration module 610 and the 1-2^(th) vibration module 620. Thefirst protection layer 241 and the second protection layer 242 may bedisposed to surround the 1-1^(th) vibration array 600. For example, asize of each of the first protection layer 241 and the second protectionlayer 242 may be greater than or equal to that of the 1-1^(th) vibrationarray 600. For example, the first protection layer 241 and the secondprotection layer 242 may be vibration plates of the 1-1^(th) vibrationmodule 610 and the 1-2^(th) vibration module 620. The 1-2^(th) vibrationarray 800 may further include a first protection layer 245 and a secondprotection layer 245. The first protection layer 245 and the secondprotection layer 246 may be the same as the first protection layer 241and the second protection layer 242 of the 1-1^(th) vibration array 600.The 2-1^(th) vibration array 700 may further include a first protectionlayer 243 and a second protection layer 244. The first protection layer243 and the second protection layer 244 may be the same as the firstprotection layer 241 and the second protection layer 242 of the 1-1^(th)vibration array 600. The 2-2^(th) vibration array 900 may furtherinclude a first protection layer 247 and a second protection layer 248.The first protection layer 247 and the second protection layer 248 maybe the same as the first protection layer 241 and the second protectionlayer 242 of the 1-1^(th) vibration array 600.

The second protection layer 242 according to an embodiment of thepresent disclosure may include a connection region. The connectionregion may include a first connection region CA1, a second connectionregion CA2, and a third connection region CA3. The connection region maybe a region on which the first protection layer 241 and the secondprotection layer 242 are attached to each other. The connection regionmay be an attachment region, an adhesive region, and a coupling region,but the terms are not limited thereto.

The first connection region CA1 may be disposed at an edge (or aperiphery) of the second protection layer 242. For example, the firstconnection region CA1 may be disposed on a top surface of the secondprotection layer 242. For example, the first connection region CA1 maybe disposed on the second protection layer 242. For example, the firstconnection region CA1 may be an edge region between the first protectionlayer 241 and the second protection layer 242.

The second connection region CA2 may be disposed between the firstprotection layer 241 and the second protection layer 242. For example,the second connection region CA2 may be disposed between the firstprotection layer 241 and the second protection layer 242 correspondingto a region between the 1-1^(th) vibration module 610 and the 1-2^(th)vibration module 620.

The third connection region CA3 may be disposed on a top surface of thefirst protection layer 241. For example, the third connection region CA3may be disposed on the first protection layer 241. For example, thethird connection region CA3 may be disposed on the first protectionlayer 241 overlapping each of the 1-1^(th) vibration module 610 and the1-2^(th) vibration module 620. For example, the third connection regionCA3 may be disposed on a top surface of the first protection layer 241overlapping each of the 1-1^(th) vibration module 610 and the 1-2^(th)vibration module 620. The third connection region CA3 may be surroundedby the first connection region CA1 and the second connection region CA2.

The 1-1^(th) vibration array 600 according to an embodiment of thepresent disclosure may further include a connection member 249 disposedbetween the first protection layer 241 and the second protection layer242.

The connection member 249 may be disposed between the first protectionlayer 241 and the second protection layer 242. For example, theconnection member 249 may be disposed between the first protection layer241 and the second protection layer 242 corresponding to each of thefirst connection region CA1 and the second connection region CA2. Forexample, the connection member 249 may connect or couple the firstprotection layer 241 to the second protection layer 242 in each of thefirst connection region CA1 and the second connection region CA2.

The connection member 249 may be disposed between the first protectionlayer 241 and each of the 1-1^(th) vibration module 610 and the 1-2^(th)vibration module 620. For example, the connection member 249 may bedisposed between the first protection layer 241 and each of the 1-1^(th)vibration module 610 and the 1-2^(th) vibration module 620 in the thirdconnection region CA3. For example, the connection member 249 mayconnect or couple the first protection layer 241 to each of the 1-1^(th)vibration module 610 and the 1-2^(th) vibration module 620 in the thirdconnection region CA3.

The 1-1^(th) vibration array 600 according to an embodiment of thepresent disclosure may further include a power supply line. The powersupply line may be implemented on a top surface of the second protectionlayer 242 so as to be electrically connected to the first electrode 231and 231′ and the second electrode 232 and 232′ of each of the 1-1^(th)vibration module 610 and the 1-2^(th) vibration module 620. For example,the power supply line may be implemented on the second protection layer242 so as to be electrically connected to the first electrode 231 and231′ and the second electrode 232 and 232′ of each of the 1-1^(th)vibration module 610 and the 1-2^(th) vibration module 620. For example,the power supply line may include a first power line and a second powerline. The first power line may be connected to the first electrode 231and 231′ of each of the 1-1^(th) vibration module 610 and the 1-2^(th)vibration module 620. The second power line may be electricallydisconnected from the first power line and may be connected to thesecond electrode 232 and 232′ of each of the 1-1^(th) vibration module610 and the 1-2^(th) vibration module 620.

For example, the power supply line may be disposed on the secondprotection layer 242 corresponding to each of the first connectionregion CA1 and the second connection region CA2. For example, the powersupply line may be disposed on a top surface of the second protectionlayer 242 corresponding to each of the first connection region CA1 andthe second connection region CA2.

The connection member 249 may not be disposed on the power supply line.Therefore, the second protection layer 242 may physically contact thepower supply line in each of the first connection region CA1 and thesecond connection region CA2.

Therefore, the first protection layer 241 may be connected to (orattached on) the second protection layer 242 by using the connectionmember 249, and the 1-1^(th) vibration module 610 and the 1-2^(th)vibration module 620 may be solidly disposed. For example, the firstprotection layer 241 may be connected to (or attached on) the secondprotection layer 242 by using the connection member 249 in each of thefirst connection region CA1 and the second connection region CA2, andthe 1-1^(th) vibration module 610 and the 1-2^(th) vibration module 620may be solidly disposed. For example, the 1-1^(th) vibration module 610and the 1-2^(th) vibration module 620 may be solidly disposed by each ofthe first to third connection regions CA1 to CA3. For example, the1-1^(th) vibration array 600 may be solidly disposed by each of thefirst to third connection regions CA1 to CA3.

The 1-1^(th) vibration module 610 and the 1-2^(th) vibration module 620may be disposed on the rear surface of the display panel 100 by anadhesive member 150. The adhesive member 150 may be a double-sided tapeor an adhesive. For example, an adhesive layer of the adhesive member150 may include epoxy, acryl, silicone, or urethane, but is not limitedthereto. The adhesive layer of the adhesive member 150 may furtherinclude an additive such as a tackifier, a wax component, or anantioxidant, and the additive may prevent the adhesive member 150 frombeing detached (or stripped) from the display panel 100 by a vibrationof the vibration device. For example, the tackifier may be rosinderivatives, the wax component may be paraffin wax, and the antioxidantmay be a phenolic antioxidant such as thioester, but embodiments of thepresent disclosure are not limited thereto. The descriptions of FIG. 17Ato 17C may be identically applied to FIGS. 18A to 23 .

With reference to FIGS. 17A and 17B, the display apparatus according toan embodiment of the present disclosure may further include a partition500. The partition 500 may include a first partition member 510surrounding the 1-1^(th) vibration array 600 and the 1-2^(th) vibrationarray 800. The partition 500 may include a second partition member 520surrounding the 2-1^(th) vibration array 700 and the 2-2^(th) vibrationarray 900. For example, the partition 500 may include a third partitionmember 530 disposed at an edge (or periphery) of the display panel 100.For example, the third partition member 530 may be disposed to surroundthe edge of the display panel 100. The third partition member 530 may bedisposed between the display panel 100 and a supporting member 300. Forexample, the partition 500 may further include one or more partitionmembers disposed between a first region A1 and a second region A2. Afourth partition member 540 and a fifth partition member 550 may bedisposed between the first region A1 and the second region A2. Thepartition 500 is as described above with reference to FIGS. 15, 16A, and16B, and thus, its detailed description is omitted.

Each of a plurality of vibration modules included in each of the1-1^(th) vibration array 600, the 1-2^(th) vibration array 800, the2-1^(th) vibration array 700, and the 2-2^(th) vibration array 900 maybe a piezoelectric composite including a first portion and a secondportion. With reference to FIGS. 17A and 17B, an arrangement directionof a first portion and an arrangement direction of a second portion ineach of the plurality of vibration modules may be the same, but thepresent embodiment is not limited thereto. For example, an arrangementdirection of a first portion and an arrangement direction of a secondportion in a plurality of vibration modules may be the same as alengthwise direction of the display panel 100. For example, anarrangement direction of a first portion and an arrangement direction ofa second portion in a plurality of vibration modules may be the same asa second direction (or the Y direction) vertical to the first direction(or the X direction) of the display panel 100.

An arrangement direction of a first portion and an arrangement directionof a second portion in of the 1-1^(th) vibration array 600 and may bethe same as an arrangement direction of a first portion and anarrangement direction of a second portion in the 1-2^(th) vibrationarray 800. For example, an arrangement direction of a first portion andan arrangement direction of a second portion in a plurality of firstvibration modules and a plurality of third vibration modules may be thesame as the lengthwise direction of the display panel 100. Anarrangement direction of a first portion and an arrangement direction ofa second portion in each of the 2-1^(th) vibration array 700 and the2-2^(th) vibration array 900 may be the same. For example, anarrangement direction of a first portion and an arrangement direction ofa second portion in a plurality of second vibration modules and aplurality of fourth vibration modules may be the same as the lengthwisedirection of the display panel 100.

For example, in a piezoelectric composite of each of the 1-1^(th)vibration module 610, the 1-2^(th) vibration module 620, the 1-3^(th)vibration module 630, and the 1-4^(th) vibration module 640 included inthe 1-1^(th) vibration array 600, an arrangement direction of a firstportion of the piezoelectric composite and an arrangement direction of asecond portion of the piezoelectric composite may be the same as thelengthwise direction of the display panel 100. For example, in apiezoelectric composite of each of the 2-1^(th) vibration module 710,the 2-2^(th) vibration module 720, the 2-3^(th) vibration module 730,and the 2-4^(th) vibration module 740 included in the 2-1^(th) vibrationarray 700, an arrangement direction of a first portion of thepiezoelectric composite and an arrangement direction of a second portionof the piezoelectric composite may be the same as the lengthwisedirection of the display panel 100. For example, in a piezoelectriccomposite of each of the 3-1^(th) vibration module 810, the 3-2^(th)vibration module 820, the 3-3^(th) vibration module 830, and the3-4^(th) vibration module 840 included in the 1-2^(th) vibration array800, an arrangement direction of a first portion of the piezoelectriccomposite and an arrangement direction of a second portion of thepiezoelectric composite may be the same as the lengthwise direction ofthe display panel 100. For example, in a piezoelectric composite of eachof the 4-1^(th) vibration module 910, the 4-2^(th) vibration module 920,the 4-3^(th) vibration module 930, and the 4-4^(th) vibration module 940included in the 2-2^(th) vibration array 900, an arrangement directionof a first portion of the piezoelectric composite and an arrangementdirection of a second portion of the piezoelectric composite may be thesame as the lengthwise direction of the display panel 100. However,embodiments of the present disclosure are not limited thereto, and anarrangement direction of a first portion and an arrangement direction ofa second portion may be the same as a widthwise direction of the displaypanel 100. This will be described with reference to FIGS. 18A and 18B.

FIGS. 18A and 18B illustrate a vibration device according to anotherembodiment of the present disclosure. FIGS. 19A and 19B illustrate avibration device according to another embodiment of the presentdisclosure.

FIGS. 18A to 19B illustrate an embodiment where an arrangement directionof a first portion and an arrangement direction of a second portion of apiezoelectric composite included in a vibration module are the same as awidthwise direction of a display panel, and descriptions which are thesame as descriptions given above with reference to FIGS. 17A to 17C willbe briefly given below or are omitted.

For example, each of a plurality of vibration modules included in eachof a 1-1^(th) vibration array 600, a 1-2^(th) vibration array 800, a2-1^(th) vibration array 700, and a 2-2^(th) vibration array 900 may bea piezoelectric composite including a first portion and a secondportion. With reference to FIGS. 18A and 18B, an arrangement directionof a first portion and an arrangement direction of a second portion ineach of the plurality of vibration modules may be the same, but thepresent embodiment is not limited thereto. For example, an arrangementdirection of a first portion and an arrangement direction of a secondportion in a plurality of vibration modules may be the same as awidthwise direction of a display panel 100. For example, an arrangementdirection of a first portion and an arrangement direction of a secondportion in a plurality of vibration modules may be the same as a firstdirection (or the X direction) vertical to the second direction (or theY direction) of the display panel 100.

An arrangement direction of a first portion and an arrangement directionof a second portion in each of the 1-1^(th) vibration array 600 and the1-2^(th) vibration array 800 may be the sames. For example, anarrangement direction of a first portion and an arrangement direction ofa second portion in a plurality of first vibration modules and aplurality of third vibration modules may be the same as the widthwisedirection of the display panel 100. An arrangement direction of a firstportion and an arrangement direction of a second portion in the 2-1^(th)vibration array 700 may be the same as an arrangement direction of afirst portion and an arrangement direction of a second portion in the2-2^(th) vibration array 900. For example, an arrangement direction of afirst portion and an arrangement direction of a second portion in aplurality of second vibration modules and a plurality of fourthvibration modules may be the same as the widthwise direction of thedisplay panel 100.

For example, in a piezoelectric composite of each of the 1-1^(th)vibration module 610, the 1-2^(th) vibration module 620, the 1-3^(th)vibration module 630, and the 1-4^(th) vibration module 640 included inthe 1-1^(th) vibration array 600, an arrangement direction of a firstportion of the piezoelectric composite and an arrangement direction of asecond portion of the piezoelectric composite may be the same as thewidthwise direction of the display panel 100. For example, in apiezoelectric composite of each of the 2-1^(th) vibration module 710,the 2-2^(th) vibration module 720, the 2-3^(th) vibration module 730,and the 2-4^(th) vibration module 740 included in the 2-1^(th) vibrationarray 700, an arrangement direction of a first portion of thepiezoelectric composite and an arrangement direction of a second portionof the piezoelectric composite may be the same as the widthwisedirection of the display panel 100. For example, in a piezoelectriccomposite of each of the 3-1^(th) vibration module 810, the 3-2^(th)vibration module 820, the 3-3^(th) vibration module 830, and the3-4^(th) vibration module 840 included in the 1-2^(th) vibration array800, an arrangement direction of a first portion of the piezoelectriccomposite and an arrangement direction of a second portion of thepiezoelectric composite may be the same as the widthwise direction ofthe display panel 100. For example, in a piezoelectric composite of eachof the 4-1^(th) vibration module 910, the 4-2^(th) vibration module 920,the 4-3^(th) vibration module 930, and the 4-4^(th) vibration module 940included in the 2-2^(th) vibration array 900, an arrangement directionof a first portion of the piezoelectric composite and an arrangementdirection of a second portion of the piezoelectric composite may be thesame as the widthwise direction of the display panel 100.

With reference to FIGS. 18A and 18B, a display apparatus according to anembodiment of the present disclosure may further include a partition500. The partition 500 may include a first partition member 510surrounding the 1-1^(th) vibration array 600 and the 1-2^(th) vibrationarray 800 and a second partition member 520 surrounding the 2-1^(th)vibration array 700 and the 2-2^(th) vibration array 900. For example,the partition 500 may further include a third partition member 530disposed between the display panel 100 and a supporting member 300. Forexample, the partition 500 may further include a sixth partition member560 disposed between a first region A1 and a second region A2. The sixthpartition member 560 may prevent a vibration, generated by each of the1-1^(th) vibration array 600 and the 1-2^(th) vibration array 800 in thefirst region A1 of the display panel 100, from being transferred to thesecond region A2 of the display panel 100, or may prevent a vibration,generated by each of the 2-1^(th) vibration array 700 and the 2-2^(th)vibration array 900 in the second region A2 of the display panel 100,from being transferred to the first region A1 of the display panel 100.

As another example, as illustrated in FIGS. 19A and 19B, the displayapparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure mayfurther include one or more partitions between the first region A1 andthe second region A2. For example, the fourth partition member 540 andthe fifth partition member 550 may be disposed between the first regionA1 and the second region A2. The partition 500 is as described abovewith reference to FIGS. 15, 16A, and 16B, and thus, its detaileddescription is omitted.

With reference to FIGS. 18A to 19B, the display apparatus according toan embodiment of the present disclosure may further include a first padmember 1250-1 disposed between the 1-1^(th) vibration module 610 and the1-2^(th) vibration module 620. The display apparatus may further includethe first pad member 1250-1 disposed between the 1-1^(th) vibrationmodule 610, the 1-2^(th) vibration module 620, the 1-3^(th) vibrationmodule 630, and the 1-4^(th) vibration module 640.

The display apparatus according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure may further include a second pad member 1250-2 disposedbetween the 2-1^(th) vibration module 710 and the 2-2^(th) vibrationmodule 720. The display apparatus may further include the second padmember 1250-2 disposed between the 2-1^(th) vibration module 710, the2-2^(th) vibration module 720, the 2-3^(th) vibration module 730, andthe 2-4^(th) vibration module 740.

The display apparatus according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure may further include a third pad member 1250-3 disposedbetween the 3-1^(th) vibration module 810 and the 3-2^(th) vibrationmodule 820. The display apparatus may further include the third padmember 1250-3 disposed between the 3-1^(th) vibration module 810, the3-2^(th) vibration module 820, the 3-3^(th) vibration module 830, andthe 3-4^(th) vibration module 840.

The display apparatus according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure may further include a fourth pad member 1250-4 disposedbetween the 4-1^(th) vibration module 910 and the 4-2^(th) vibrationmodule 920. The display apparatus may further include the fourth padmember 1250-4 disposed between the 4-1^(th) vibration module 910, the4-2^(th) vibration module 920, the 4-3^(th) vibration module 930, andthe 4-4^(th) vibration module 940.

FIGS. 20A and 20B illustrate a vibration device according to anotherembodiment of the present disclosure.

With reference to FIGS. 20A and 20B, the vibration device according toanother embodiment of the present disclosure may include a 1-1^(th)vibration array 600 and a 1-2^(th) vibration array 800, which aredisposed on a rear surface of a display panel 100. The 1-1^(th)vibration array 600 and the 1-2^(th) vibration array 800 may be disposedin a first region A1 of the display panel 100. For example, the 1-1^(th)vibration array 600 may include a 1-1^(th) vibration module 610, a1-2^(th) vibration module 620, a 1-3^(th) vibration module 630, and a1-4^(th) vibration module 640. However, embodiments of the presentdisclosure are not limited thereto, and the 1-1^(th) vibration array 600may include the 1-1^(th) vibration module 610 and the 1-2^(th) vibrationmodule 620. For example, the 1-2^(th) vibration array 800 may include a3-1^(th) vibration module 810, a 3-2^(th) vibration module 820, a3-3^(th) vibration module 830, and a 3-4^(th) vibration module 840.However, embodiments of the present disclosure are not limited thereto,and the 1-2^(th) vibration array 800 may include the 3-1^(th) vibrationmodule 810 and the 3-2^(th) vibration module 820. The 1-1^(th) vibrationarray 600 may be disposed in parallel with the 1-2^(th) vibration array800. For example, the 1-1^(th) vibration array 600 and the 1-2^(th)vibration array 800 may be disposed in parallel with a lengthwisedirection of the display panel 100. For example, the 1-1^(th) vibrationarray 600 and the 1-2^(th) vibration array 800 may be disposed in thelengthwise direction of the display panel 100. For example, the 1-1^(th)vibration array 600 and the 1-2^(th) vibration array 800 may be disposedin one row in the lengthwise direction of the display panel 100. Forexample, the 1-1^(th) vibration array 600 and the 1-2^(th) vibrationarray 800 may be disposed in parallel with a second direction (or the Ydirection) of the display panel 100.

The vibration device according to another embodiment of the presentdisclosure may further include a 2-1^(th) vibration array 700 and a2-2^(th) vibration array 900, which are disposed on the rear surface ofthe display panel 100. For example, the 2-1^(th) vibration array 700 andthe 2-2^(th) vibration array 900 may be disposed in a second region A2of the display panel 100. For example, the 2-1^(th) vibration array 700may include a 2-1^(th) vibration module 710, a 2-2^(th) vibration module720, a 2-3^(th) vibration module 730, and a 2-4^(th) vibration module740. However, the present embodiment is not limited thereto, and the2-1^(th) vibration array 700 may include the 2-1^(th) vibration module710 and the 2-2^(th) vibration module 720. For example, the 2-2^(th)vibration array 900 may include a 4-1^(th) vibration module 910, a4-2^(th) vibration module 920, a 4-3^(th) vibration module 930, and a4-4^(th) vibration module 940. However, the present embodiment is notlimited thereto, and the 2-2^(th) vibration array 900 may include the4-1^(th) vibration module 910 and the 4-2^(th) vibration module 920. The2-1^(th) vibration array 700 may be disposed in parallel with the2-2^(th) vibration array 900. For example, the 2-1^(th) vibration array700 and the 2-2^(th) vibration array 900 may be disposed in parallelwith the lengthwise direction of the display panel 100. For example, the2-1^(th) vibration array 700 and the 2-2^(th) vibration array 900 may bedisposed in the lengthwise direction of the display panel 100. Forexample, the 2-1^(th) vibration array 700 and the 2-2^(th) vibrationarray 900 may be disposed in one row in the lengthwise direction of thedisplay panel 100. For example, the 2-1^(th) vibration array 700 and the2-2^(th) vibration array 900 may be disposed in parallel with the seconddirection (or the Y direction) of the display panel 100. The 1-1^(th)vibration array 600, the 2-1^(th) vibration array 700, the 1-2^(th)vibration array 800, and the 2-2^(th) vibration array 900 are asdescribed with reference to FIGS. 16A to 17C, and thus, their detaileddescriptions are omitted. Also, the first pad member 1250-1, the secondpad member 1250-2, the third pad member 1250-3, and the fourth padmember 1250-4 are as described with reference to FIGS. 17A to 19B, andthus, their detailed descriptions are omitted.

Each of a plurality of vibration modules included in each of the1-1^(th) vibration array 600, the 1-2^(th) vibration array 800, the2-1^(th) vibration array 700, and the 2-2^(th) vibration array 900 mayinclude a first portion and a second portion of a piezoelectriccomposite 1200. With reference to FIGS. 20A and 20B, an arrangementdirection of a first portion and an arrangement direction of a secondportion of the piezoelectric composite 1200 may be the same, but thepresent embodiment is not limited thereto. For example, the arrangementdirection of the first portion and the arrangement direction of thesecond portion in the piezoelectric composite 1200 may be the same as awidthwise direction of the display panel 100. For example, thearrangement direction of the first portion and the arrangement directionof the second portion in the piezoelectric composite 1200 may be thesame as a first direction (or the X direction) of the display panel 100.

With reference to FIGS. 20A and 20B, a display apparatus according to anembodiment of the present disclosure may further include a partition500. With reference to FIG. 20A, the partition 500 may include a firstpartition member 510, a second partition member 520, a third partitionmember 530, and a sixth partition member 560. With reference to FIG.20B, the partition 500 may include a first partition member 510, asecond partition member 520, a third partition member 530, a fourthpartition member 540, and a fifth partition member 550. This is asdescribed with reference to FIGS. 15 to 19B, and thus, their detaileddescriptions are omitted.

FIGS. 21A and 21B illustrate a display apparatus including a vibrationdevice according to another embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIGS. 21A and 21B illustrate an embodiment where an arrangementdirection of a first portion and an arrangement direction of a secondportion of a piezoelectric composite in a vibration module differ froman arrangement direction of a first portion and an arrangement directionof a second portion of the piezoelectric composite, and descriptionswhich are the same as descriptions given above with reference to FIGS.20A and 20B will be briefly given below or are omitted.

With reference to FIG. 21A, a vibration device according to anotherembodiment of the present disclosure may include a 1-1^(th) vibrationarray 600 and a 1-2^(th) vibration array 800, which are disposed on arear surface of a display panel 100. The 1-1^(th) vibration array 600and the 1-2^(th) vibration array 800 may be disposed in a first regionA1 of the display panel 100. An arrangement direction of a first portionan arrangement direction of a first portion and of a piezoelectriccomposite 1200 included in the 1-1^(th) vibration array 600 may differfrom an arrangement direction of a first portion and an arrangementdirection of a second portion of a piezoelectric composite 1200 includedin the 1-2^(th) vibration array 800, but embodiments of the presentdisclosure are not limited thereto. For example, the arrangementdirection of the first portion and the arrangement direction of thesecond portion in the piezoelectric composite 1200 included in the1-1^(th) vibration array 600 may be the same as a widthwise direction ofthe display panel 100. For example, the arrangement direction of thefirst portion and the arrangement direction of the second portion in thepiezoelectric composite 1200 included in the 1-1^(th) vibration array600 may be the same as a first direction (or the X direction) of thedisplay panel 100. For example, the arrangement direction of the firstportion and the arrangement direction of the second portion in thepiezoelectric composite 1200 included in the 1-2^(th) vibration array800 may be the same as a lengthwise direction of the display panel 100.For example, the arrangement direction of the first portion and thearrangement direction of the second portion in the piezoelectriccomposite 1200 included in the 1-2^(th) vibration array 800 may be thesame as a second direction (or the Y direction) of the display panel100.

With reference to FIG. 21A, the vibration device according to anotherembodiment of the present disclosure may include a 2-1^(th) vibrationarray 700 and a 2-2^(th) vibration array 900, which are disposed on therear surface of a display panel 100. The 2-1^(th) vibration array 700and the 2-2^(th) vibration array 900 may be disposed in a second regionA2 of the display panel 100. An arrangement direction of a first portionand an arrangement direction of a second portion of a piezoelectriccomposite 1200 included in the 2-1^(th) vibration array 700 may differfrom an arrangement direction of a first portion and an arrangementdirection of a second portion of a piezoelectric composite 1200 includedin the 2-2^(th) vibration array 900, but the present embodiment is notlimited thereto. For example, the arrangement direction of the firstportion and the arrangement direction of the second portion in thepiezoelectric composite 1200 included in the 2-1^(th) vibration array700 may be the same as a widthwise direction of the display panel 100.For example, the arrangement direction of the first portion and thearrangement direction of the second portion in the piezoelectriccomposite 1200 included in the 2-1^(th) vibration array 700 may be thesame as the first direction (or the X direction) of the display panel100. For example, the arrangement direction of the first portion and thearrangement direction of the second portion in the piezoelectriccomposite 1200 included in the 2-2^(th) vibration array 900 may be thesame as a lengthwise direction of the display panel 100. For example,the arrangement direction of the first portion and the arrangementdirection of the second portion in the piezoelectric composite 1200included in the 2-2^(th) vibration array 900 may be the same as thesecond direction (or the Y direction) of the display panel 100.

With reference to FIG. 21B, a vibration device according to anotherembodiment of the present disclosure may include a 1-1^(th) vibrationarray 600 and a 1-2^(th) vibration array 800, which are disposed on arear surface of a display panel 100. The 1-1^(th) vibration array 600and the 1-2^(th) vibration array 800 may be disposed in a first regionA1 of the display panel 100. An arrangement direction of a first portionand an arrangement direction of a second portion of a piezoelectriccomposite 1200 included in the 1-1^(th) vibration array 600 may differfrom an arrangement direction of a first portion and an arrangementdirection of a second portion of a piezoelectric composite 1200 includedin the 1-2^(th) vibration array 800, but the present embodiment is notlimited thereto. For example, the arrangement direction of the firstportion and the arrangement direction of the second portion in thepiezoelectric composite 1200 included in the 1-1^(th) vibration array600 may be the same as a lengthwise direction of the display panel 100.For example, the arrangement direction of the first portion and thearrangement direction of the second portion in the piezoelectriccomposite 1200 included in the 1-1^(th) vibration array 600 may be thesame as a second direction (or the Y direction) of the display panel100. For example, the arrangement direction of the first portion and thearrangement direction of the second portion in the piezoelectriccomposite 1200 included in the 1-2^(th) vibration array 800 may be thesame as a widthwise direction of the display panel 100. For example, thearrangement direction of the first portion and the arrangement directionof the second portion in the piezoelectric composite 1200 included inthe 1-2^(th) vibration array 800 may be the same as a first direction(or the X direction) of the display panel 100.

With reference to FIG. 21B, the vibration device according to anotherembodiment of the present disclosure may include a 2-1^(th) vibrationarray 700 and a 2-2^(th) vibration array 900, which are disposed on therear surface of a display panel 100. The 2-1^(th) vibration array 700and the 2-2^(th) vibration array 900 may be disposed in a second regionA2 of the display panel 100. An arrangement direction of a first portionand an arrangement direction of a second portion of a piezoelectriccomposite 1200 included in the 2-1^(th) vibration array 700 may differfrom an arrangement direction of a first portion an arrangementdirection of a second portion of a piezoelectric composite 1200 includedin the 2-2^(th) vibration array 900, but the present embodiment is notlimited thereto. For example, the arrangement direction of the firstportion and the arrangement direction of the second portion in thepiezoelectric composite 1200 included in the 2-1^(th) vibration array700 may be the same as a widthwise direction of the display panel 100.For example, the arrangement direction of the first portion and thearrangement direction of the second portion in the piezoelectriccomposite 1200 included in the 2-1^(th) vibration array 700 may be thesame as the first direction (or the X direction) of the display panel100. For example, the arrangement direction of the first portion and thearrangement direction of the second portion in the piezoelectriccomposite 1200 included in the 2-2^(th) vibration array 900 may be thesame as a lengthwise direction of the display panel 100. For example,the arrangement direction of the first portion and the arrangementdirection of the second portion in the piezoelectric composite 1200included in the 2-2^(th) vibration array 900 may be the same as thesecond direction (or the Y direction) of the display panel 100. However,the present embodiment is not limited thereto, and the arrangementdirection of the first portion and the arrangement direction of thesecond portion in the piezoelectric composite 1200 included in each ofthe 2-1^(th) vibration array 700 and the 2-2^(th) vibration array 900may be the same as the arrangement direction of the first portion andthe arrangement direction of the second portion in the piezoelectriccomposite 1200 included in each of the 1-1^(th) vibration array 600 andthe 1-2^(th) vibration array 800. For example, the arrangement directionof the first portion and the arrangement direction of the second portionin the piezoelectric composite 1200 included in each of the 1-1^(th)vibration array 600 and the 1-2^(th) vibration array 800 may besymmetric with the arrangement direction of the first portion and thearrangement direction of the second portion in the piezoelectriccomposite 1200 included in each of the 2-1^(th) vibration array 700 andthe 2-2^(th) vibration array 900. As another example, the arrangementdirection of the first portion and the arrangement direction of thesecond portion in the piezoelectric composite 1200 included in each ofthe 1-1^(th) vibration array 600 and the 1-2^(th) vibration array 800may be asymmetric with the arrangement direction of the first portionand the arrangement direction of the second portion in the piezoelectriccomposite 1200 included in each of the 2-1^(th) vibration array 700 andthe 2-2^(th) vibration array 900. For example, the arrangement directionof the first portion and the arrangement direction of the second portionin the piezoelectric composite 1200 included in the 1-1^(th) vibrationarray 600 may differ from the arrangement direction of the first portionand the arrangement direction of the second portion in the piezoelectriccomposite 1200 included in the 2-1^(th) vibration array 700. Forexample, the arrangement direction of the first portion and thearrangement direction of the second portion in the piezoelectriccomposite 1200 included in the 1-2^(th) vibration array 800 may differfrom the arrangement direction of the first portion and the arrangementdirection of the second portion in the piezoelectric composite 1200included in the 2-2^(th) vibration array 900.

With reference to FIGS. 21A and 21B, a display apparatus according to anembodiment of the present disclosure may further include a partition500. For example, the partition 500 may include a first partition member510, a second partition member 520, a third partition member 530, afourth partition member 540, and a fifth partition member 550. However,embodiments of the present disclosure are not limited thereto, and asdescribed above with reference to FIG. 20A, the partition 500 mayinclude a first partition member 510, a second partition member 520, athird partition member 530, and a sixth partition member 560. This is asdescribed with reference to FIGS. 15 to 19B, and thus, their detaileddescriptions are omitted.

FIG. 22 illustrates a display apparatus according to another embodimentof the present disclosure.

With reference to FIG. 22 , the display apparatus according to anotherembodiment of the present disclosure may include a piezoelectriccomposite 1200, a pad member 1250, a supporting member 300, and apartition 500.

For example, the piezoelectric composite 1200 may be disposed on a rearsurface of a display panel 100. The piezoelectric composite 1200 may bedisposed on the rear surface of the display panel 100 by an adhesivemember 150. The supporting member 300 may be disposed on the rearsurface of the display panel 100. The pad member 1250 may be disposed onthe rear surface of the piezoelectric composite 1200. For example, thepad member 1250 may be disposed between the piezoelectric composite 1200and the supporting member 300.

The partition 500 may be disposed between the display panel 100 and thesupporting member 300. A second supporting member 320 may be furtherdisposed between the display panel 100 and the supporting member 300.The supporting member 300 may include a glass material. For example, theglass material may be sapphire glass, but embodiments are not limitedthereto. The second supporting member 320 may be a metal material. Forexample, the metal material may include one material of Al, an A1 alloy,a Mg, a Mg alloy, and a Fe—Ni alloy, but is not limited thereto. Thesecond supporting member 320 may be an inner plate, but the terms arenot limited thereto. For example, the second supporting member 320 maysecure a stiffness of the display panel 100 and may dissipate heatoccurring in driving of the display panel 100. As another example, thesecond supporting member 320 may be omitted. The supporting member 300may be attached on the second supporting member 320 by a second adhesivemember 420. The second adhesive member 420 may include epoxy, acryl,silicone, or urethane, but embodiments are not limited thereto.

Therefore, because a pad member is provided between a plurality ofvibration modules configuring a vibration array, a resonance frequencygenerated between the plurality of vibration modules may be controlled,thereby providing a display apparatus having an enhanced sound outputcharacteristic.

FIG. 23 illustrates a display apparatus according to another embodimentof the present disclosure.

With reference to FIG. 23 , the display apparatus according to anotherembodiment of the present disclosure may include a piezoelectriccomposite 1200, a pad member 1350, a supporting member 300, and apartition 500.

The pad member 1350 according to another embodiment of the presentdisclosure may be disposed on a rear surface of the piezoelectriccomposite 1200. For example, the pad member 1350 may include the samematerial as that of the piezoelectric composite 1200. With reference toFIG. 17A, the pad member 1350 may be disposed at a position at which thefirst pad member 1250-1 is disposed. For example, the pad member 1350may be connected to the rear surface of the piezoelectric composite1200, and spaced apart from the supporting member 300. The pad member1350 may be a resonance control element, a resonance controller, or aresonance pad, but the terms are not limited thereto. The pad member1350 may be disposed between vibration modules of the 1-1^(th) vibrationarray 600. For example, the pad member 1350 may be disposed between the1-1^(th) vibration module 610, the 1-2^(th) vibration module 620, the1-3^(th) vibration module 630, and the 1-4^(th) vibration module 640arranged in the 1-1^(th) vibration array 600. For example, a size of thepad member 1350 may be greater than or equal to a size of a boundaryregion between the 1-1^(th) vibration module 610, the 1-2^(th) vibrationmodule 620, the 1-3^(th) vibration module 630, and the 1-4^(th)vibration module 640. Also, the pad member 1350 may be further disposedbetween vibration modules of each of the 1-2^(th) vibration array 800,the 2-1^(th) vibration array 700, and the 2-2^(th) vibration array 900.

For example, the pad member 1350 may include the same material as thatof the piezoelectric composite 1200. In a case where the pad member 1350includes the same material as that of the piezoelectric composite 1200,a level of a signal applied to the pad member 1350 may be adjusted, andthus, a resonance of the vibration device may be easily controlled. Forexample, a plurality of second portions included in the piezoelectriccomposite 1200 may be disposed at edges of the 1-1^(th) vibration module610, the 1-2^(th) vibration module 620, the 1-3^(th) vibration module630, and the 1-4^(th) vibration module 640. For example, the pad member1350 disposed between the 1-1^(th) vibration module 610, the 1-2^(th)vibration module 620, the 1-3^(th) vibration module 630, and the1-4^(th) vibration module 640 may be disposed on a plurality of firstportions and a plurality of second portions included in thepiezoelectric composite 1200.

FIG. 24 illustrates a sound output characteristic of a display apparatusaccording to another embodiment of the present disclosure.

A sound output characteristic may be measured by a sound analysisapparatus. The sound analysis apparatus may include a sound card whichtransmits or receives a sound to or from a control personal computer(PC), an amplifier which amplifies a signal generated from the soundcard and transfers the amplified signal to the sound generating module,and a microphone which collects a sound generated by a vibration devicein a display panel. The sound collected through the microphone may beinput to the control PC through the sound card, and a control programmay check the input sound to analyze the sounds of the vibration device.

A dotted line of FIG. 24 shows a sound output characteristic of adisplay apparatus to which FIG. 16A is applied. A solid line of FIG. 24shows a sound output characteristic of a display apparatus to which FIG.17A is applied. FIG. 24 , the abscissa axis represents a frequency (Hz),and the ordinate axis represents a sound pressure level (SPL) (dB).

With reference to FIG. 24 , comparing with a display apparatus accordingto a dotted line, in a display apparatus including a pad memberaccording to an embodiment of the present disclosure, it may be seenthat a dip phenomenon is reduced in a frequency of about 600 Hz. Forexample, it may be seen that a sound pressure level in a frequency ofabout 600 Hz is about 80 dB to about 82 dB when a pad member is notapplied, and when the pad member is applied, a sound pressure level in afrequency of about 600 Hz is about 87 dB. For example, when the padmember is not applied, it may be seen that a sound pressure level in afrequency of the middle-pitched sound band decreases by about 5 dB toabout 7 dB in a boundary portion of a vibration module. On the otherhand, when the pad member is applied, it may be seen that a soundpressure level in a frequency of the middle-pitched sound band increasesby about 5 dB or more in the boundary portion of the vibration module.For example, when the pad member is applied, it may be seen that a soundpressure level in a frequency of the middle-pitched sound band increasesby about 5 dB or more in a boundary portion of a center portion of thevibration module. For example, when the pad member is applied, it may beseen that a sound pressure level in a frequency of the middle-pitchedsound band increases by about 5 dB or more.

For example, it may be seen that resonance intensity is about 60 μm/s inthe boundary portion of the vibration module when the pad member is notapplied, but when the pad member is applied, resonance intensity isabout 20 μm/s in the boundary portion of the vibration module andresonance or reverse resonance decreases by about 66%. Resonanceintensity is for measuring a displacement of a display panel, whichoccurs by applying a signal to the vibration module, by using a laserDoppler measurer. Therefore, as the pad member is provided betweenadjacent vibration modules, a dip phenomenon where a sound pressurelevel bounces or a degradation in sound quality may decrease in aspecific frequency band, and thus, flatness of a sound pressure levelmay be enhanced, thereby providing a display apparatus where a soundpressure level is enhanced in the middle-pitched sound band.

FIG. 25 illustrates a sound output characteristic of a display apparatusaccording to another embodiment of the present disclosure. Measuring ofa sound output characteristic is as described above with reference toFIG. 24 , and thus, its detailed description is omitted.

FIG. 25 shows a result obtained by measuring a sound outputcharacteristic of a display apparatus to which FIG. 16A is applied. Aone-dot-dashed line of FIG. 25 represents an example where a voltage of0 V is applied to the pad member 1350 of FIG. 23 , a dotted linerepresents an example where a voltage of 10 V is applied to the padmember 1350, and a solid line represents an example where a voltage of20 V is applied to the pad member 1350. A voltage of 10 V has beenapplied to the piezoelectric composite 1200.

With reference to FIG. 25 , it may be seen that a frequencycharacteristic varies based on a voltage applied to a pad member. Forexample, in a one-dot-dashed line representing a case where a voltage isnot applied to the pad member, it may be seen that a dip phenomenonappears in the middle-pitched sound band. Also, in a dotted linerepresenting a case where the same voltage as a voltage applied to apiezoelectric composite is applied to the pad member, it may be seenthat a dip phenomenon appears in the middle-pitched sound band. Forexample, comparing with a case where a voltage is not applied to the padmember, it may be seen that a dip phenomenon decreases in a case wherethe same voltage as a voltage applied to the piezoelectric composite isapplied to the pad member. Also, in a case where the same voltage as avoltage applied to the piezoelectric composite is applied to the padmember, a dip phenomenon may be reduced by a signal caused bydestructive interference. In a solid line representing a case where avoltage applied to the pad member differs from a voltage applied to thepiezoelectric composite, it may be seen that a dip phenomenon decreasesin the middle-pitched sound band. In a case where a voltage applied tothe pad member differs from a voltage applied to the piezoelectriccomposite, a dip phenomenon may be reduced by a signal caused byconstructive interference. For example, in a case where a voltageapplied to the pad member is higher than a voltage applied to thepiezoelectric composite, it may be seen that a dip phenomenon decreasesin the middle-pitched sound band. Therefore, as the pad member isprovided between adjacent vibration modules, it may be seen that a dipphenomenon decreases in the middle-pitched sound band. For example, asthe pad member is provided between adjacent vibration modules, it may beseen that a sound pressure level in a frequency of the middle-pitchedsound band increases by about 5 dB to about 7 dB. For example, as thepad member including the same material as that of the piezoelectriccomposite is provided between adjacent vibration modules, it may be seenthat a dip phenomenon decreases in the middle-pitched sound band. Forexample, as the pad member including the same material as that of thepiezoelectric composite is provided between adjacent vibration modulesand a voltage differing from a voltage applied to the piezoelectriccomposite is applied to the pad member, it may be seen that a dipphenomenon decreases in the middle-pitched sound band. Accordingly, asthe pad member is provided between adjacent vibration modules, a dipphenomenon where a sound pressure level bounces or a degradation insound quality may decrease in a specific frequency band, and thus,flatness of a sound pressure level may be enhanced, thereby providing adisplay apparatus where a sound pressure level is enhanced in themiddle-pitched sound band.

The vibration device according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure may be applied to a vibration device disposed on a displayapparatus. The display apparatus according to an embodiment of thepresent disclosure may be applied to mobile apparatuses, video phones,smart watches, watch phones, wearable apparatuses, foldable apparatuses,rollable apparatuses, bendable apparatuses, flexible apparatuses, curvedapparatuses, electronic organizers, electronic book, portable multimediaplayers (PMPs), personal digital assistants (PDAs), MP3 players, mobilemedical devices, desktop personal computers (PCs), laptop PCs, netbookcomputers, workstations, navigation apparatuses, automotive navigationapparatuses, automotive display apparatuses, automotive apparatuses,theater apparatuses, theater display apparatuses, TVs, wall paperdisplay apparatuses, signage apparatuses, game machines, notebookcomputers, monitors, cameras, camcorders, home appliances, etc. Also,the vibration device according to the present disclosure may be appliedto organic light emitting lighting apparatuses or inorganic lightemitting lighting apparatuses. When a vibration device or a soundgenerating device of the present disclosure is applied to a lightingapparatuses, the vibration device or the sound generating device may actas lighting and a speaker. Also, when the display apparatus of thepresent disclosure is applied to a mobile device, the vibration modulemay act as one or more of a speaker, a receiver, and a haptic, butembodiments of the present disclosure are not limited thereto.

A display apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosurewill be described below.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, a displayapparatus may include: a display panel configured to display an image,and a vibration device on a rear surface of the display panel to vibratethe display panel to generate a sound, the vibration device including avibration array including a plurality of vibration modules.

According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, the displayapparatus may further include a pad member between the plurality ofvibration modules.

According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, the vibrationarray may include N (where N is a natural number of 2 or more) or morevibration modules.

According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, each of theplurality of vibration modules may include a plurality of first portion,and a plurality of second portion between the plurality of firstportions.

According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, an arrangementdirection of the at least one first portion and an arrangement directionof the at least one second portion may be the same as a widthwisedirection or a lengthwise direction of the display panel.

According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, the firstportion may include an inorganic material, and the second portion mayinclude an organic material.

According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, each of theplurality of vibration modules may include a first electrode on thefirst portion and the second portion, and a second electrode under thefirst portion and the second portion.

According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, each of theplurality of vibration modules may include a first electrode on thefirst portion and the second portion, a second electrode under the firstportion and the second portion, a first protection layer on the firstelectrode, and a second protection layer under the second electrode.

According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, the pad membermay include an adhesive.

According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, the pad membermay include the same material as a material of each of the plurality ofvibration modules.

According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, the displayapparatus may further include an adhesive member, by which the vibrationdevice is attached to the rear surface of the display panel, theadhesive member may include a hollow portion between the display paneland the vibration device for providing an air gap between the displaypanel and the vibration device.

According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, the firstportion may have a line pattern having a predetermined first width andthe second portion may have a line pattern having a predetermined secondwidth, the first width may be equal to or different from the secondwidth.

According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, the secondportion may have a modulus and viscoelasticity that are lower than thoseof the first portion.

According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, the secondportion may include a material having a loss coefficient of 0.01 toabout 1.0 and a modulus of 1 to 10 Gpa.

According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, a width of thesecond portion progressively may decrease in a direction from a centerportion to both peripheries of the vibration device.

According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, the firstportion may have a circular shape and the second portion surrounds thefirst portion.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, a displayapparatus may include: a display panel configured to display an imageand including a first region and a second region, a first vibrationarray in the first region, the first vibration array including aplurality of first vibration modules, and a second vibration array inthe second region, the second vibration array including a plurality ofsecond vibration modules.

According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, the displayapparatus may further include a first pad member between the pluralityof first vibration modules, and a second pad member between theplurality of second vibration modules.

According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, the firstvibration array may include a 1-1^(th) vibration array and a 1-2^(th)vibration array, and the 1-1^(th) vibration array and the 1-2^(th)vibration array may be alternately disposed.

According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, the secondvibration array may include a 2-1^(th) vibration array and a 2-2^(th)vibration array, and the 2-1^(th) vibration array and the 2-2^(th)vibration array may be alternately disposed.

According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, the firstvibration array may include a 1-1^(th) vibration array and a 1-2^(th)vibration array, the second vibration array may include a 2-1^(th)vibration array and a 2-2^(th) vibration array, and the 1-2^(th)vibration array and the 2-2^(th) vibration array may be disposed betweenthe 1-1^(th) vibration array and the 2-1^(th) vibration array.

According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, the firstvibration array may include a 1-1^(th) vibration array and a 1-2^(th)vibration array, and the 1-1^(th) vibration array and the 1-2^(th)vibration array may be disposed in a lengthwise direction of the displaypanel.

According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, the firstvibration array may include a 1-1^(th) vibration array and a 1-2^(th)vibration array, the second vibration array may include a 2-1^(th)vibration array and a 2-2^(th) vibration array, the 1-1^(th) vibrationarray and the 1-2^(th) vibration array may be disposed in a lengthwisedirection of the display panel, and the 2-1^(th) vibration array and the2-2^(th) vibration array may be disposed in the lengthwise direction ofthe display panel.

According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, the firstvibration array may include a 1-1^(th) vibration array and a 1-2^(th)vibration array, the 1-1^(th) vibration array may include the pluralityof first vibration modules, the 1-2^(th) vibration array may include aplurality of third vibration modules, and each of the plurality of firstvibration modules and the plurality of third vibration modules mayinclude one composite (or one-piece composite) including a plurality offirst portions and a plurality of second portions between the pluralityof first portions.

According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, an arrangementdirection of the plurality of first portions and an arrangementdirection of the plurality of second portions in the plurality of firstvibration modules may differ from an arrangement direction of theplurality of first portions and an arrangement direction of theplurality of second portions in the plurality of second vibrationmodules.

According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, in each of theplurality of first vibration modules and the plurality of thirdvibration modules, an arrangement direction of the plurality of firstportions and an arrangement direction of the plurality of secondportions may be the same as a widthwise direction or a lengthwisedirection of the display panel.

According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, the secondvibration array may include a 2-1^(th) vibration array and a 2-2^(th)vibration array, the 2-1^(th) vibration array may include the pluralityof second vibration modules, the 2-2^(th) vibration array may include aplurality of fourth vibration modules, and each of the plurality ofsecond vibration modules and the plurality of fourth vibration modulesmay include one composite (or one-piece composite) including a pluralityof first portions and a plurality of second portions between theplurality of first portions.

According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, an arrangementdirection of the plurality of first portions and an arrangementdirection of the plurality of second portions in the plurality of secondvibration modules may differ from an arrangement direction of theplurality of first portions and an arrangement direction of theplurality of second portions in the plurality of fourth vibrationmodules.

According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, in each of theplurality of second vibration modules and the plurality of fourthvibration modules, an arrangement direction of the plurality of firstportions and an arrangement direction of the plurality of secondportions may be the same as a widthwise direction or a lengthwisedirection of the display panel.

According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, each of theplurality of first vibration modules and the plurality of secondvibration modules may include one composite (or one-piece composite)including a plurality of first portions and a plurality of secondportions between the plurality of first portions.

According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, an arrangementdirection of the plurality of first portions and an arrangementdirection of the plurality of second portions in the plurality of firstvibration modules may differ from an arrangement direction of theplurality of first portions and an arrangement direction of theplurality of second portions in the plurality of second vibrationmodules.

According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, an arrangementdirection of the plurality of first portions and an arrangementdirection of the plurality of second portions in each of the pluralityof first vibration modules and the plurality of second vibration modulesmay be the same as a widthwise direction or a lengthwise direction ofthe display panel.

According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, each of theplurality of first vibration modules and the plurality of secondvibration modules may include a first electrode on the plurality offirst portions and the plurality of second portions, and a secondelectrode under the plurality of first portions and the plurality ofsecond portions.

According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, each of theplurality of first vibration modules and the plurality of secondvibration modules may include a first electrode on the plurality offirst portions and the plurality of second portions, a second electrodeunder the plurality of first portions and the plurality of secondportions, a first protection layer on the first electrode, and a secondprotection layer under the second electrode.

According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, the displayapparatus may further include a first partition member surrounding thefirst vibration array, and a second partition member surrounding thesecond vibration array.

According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, the displayapparatus may further include a first partition member surrounding thefirst vibration array, a second partition member surrounding the secondvibration array, and a third partition member surrounding the firstpartition member and the second partition member.

According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, the displayapparatus may further include a first partition member surrounding thefirst vibration array, a second partition member surrounding the secondvibration array, and one or more fourth partition members between thefirst region and the second region.

According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, the displayapparatus may further include a first partition member surrounding thefirst vibration array, a second partition member surrounding the secondvibration array, a third partition member surrounding the firstpartition member and the second partition member, and one or more fourthpartition members between the first region and the second region.

According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, each of thefirst pad member and the second pad member may include an adhesive.

According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, the first padmember and the second pad member may include the same material as amaterial of one of the plurality of first vibration modules and theplurality of second vibration modules.

According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, the firstportion may have a line pattern having a predetermined first width andthe second portion may have a line pattern having a predetermined secondwidth, the first width may be equal to or different from the secondwidth.

According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, the secondportion may have a modulus and viscoelasticity that are lower than thoseof the first portion.

According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, the secondportion may include a material having a loss coefficient of 0.01 toabout 1.0 and a modulus of 1 to 10 Gpa.

According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, a width of thesecond portion progressively may decrease in a direction from a centerportion to both peripheries of the vibration device.

A display apparatus according to embodiments of the present disclosuremay include a vibration device which vibrates a display panel or avibration plate, and thus, may generate a sound so that a travelingdirection of the sound of the display apparatus or apparatus is adirection toward a front surface of the display panel or the vibrationplate.

According to embodiments of the present disclosure, a pad member may beprovided between adjacent vibration modules, thereby providing a displayapparatus or an apparatus having an enhanced sound outputcharacteristic.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that variousmodifications and variations can be made in the vibration device and thedisplay apparatus of the present disclosure without departing from thetechnical idea or scope of the disclosures. Thus, it may be intendedthat embodiments of the present disclosure cover the modifications andvariations of the disclosure provided they come within the scope of theappended claims and their equivalents.

What is claimed is:
 1. A display apparatus, comprising: a display panelconfigured to display an image; a vibration device on a rear surface ofthe display panel to vibrate the display panel to generate a sound, thevibration device including: a vibration array including a plurality ofvibration modules; and a pad member between the plurality of vibrationmodules in a plan view and disposed at a rear surface of the vibrationarray; and a partition member on the rear surface of the display panel,the partition member surrounding the vibration array and the pad memberin the plan view, wherein the pad member includes a different materialfrom a material of the partition member.
 2. The display apparatus ofclaim 1, wherein the vibration array comprises N (where N is a naturalnumber of 2 or more) or more vibration modules.
 3. The display apparatusof claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of vibration modulescomprises: a plurality of first portions; and a plurality of secondportions between the plurality of first portions.
 4. The displayapparatus of claim 3, wherein an arrangement direction of the at leastone first portion and an arrangement direction of the at least onesecond portion are the same as a widthwise direction or a lengthwisedirection of the display panel.
 5. The display apparatus of claim 3,wherein: the first portions comprise an inorganic material, and thesecond portions comprise an organic material.
 6. The display apparatusof claim 3, wherein each of the plurality of vibration modulescomprises: a first electrode on a front surface of the first portionsand the second portions; and a second electrode on a rear surface of thefirst portions and the second portions.
 7. The display apparatus ofclaim 3, wherein each of the plurality of vibration modules comprises: afirst electrode on a front surface of the first portions and the secondportions; a second electrode on a rear surface of the first portions andthe second portions; a first protection layer on a front surface of thefirst electrode; and a second protection layer on a rear surface of thesecond electrode.
 8. The display apparatus of claim 3, wherein the firstportions have a line pattern having a predetermined first width, and thesecond portions have a line pattern having a predetermined second width,the first width being equal to or different from the second width. 9.The display apparatus of claim 8, wherein the second portions have amodulus and viscoelasticity that are lower than those of the firstportions.
 10. The display apparatus of claim 9, wherein the secondportions include a material having a loss coefficient of 0.01 to about1.0 and a modulus of 1 to 10 GPa.
 11. The display apparatus of claim 3,wherein a width of the second portions progressively decreases in adirection from a center portion to both peripheries of the vibrationdevice.
 12. The display apparatus of claim 1, wherein the pad membercomprises an adhesive.
 13. The display apparatus of claim 1, wherein thepad member comprises the same material as a material of each of theplurality of vibration modules.
 14. The display apparatus of claim 1,further comprising: an adhesive member, by which the vibration device isattached to the rear surface of the display panel, wherein the adhesivemember includes a hollow portion between the display panel and thevibration device for providing an air gap between the display panel andthe vibration device.
 15. The display apparatus of claim 1, wherein thefirst portions have a circular shape, and the second portionsrespectively surround the first portions.
 16. The display apparatus ofclaim 1, wherein the first vibration array includes: a first protectionlayer on the plurality of first vibration modules; a second protectionlayer under the plurality of first vibration modules; and a connectionmember between the first protection layer and the second protectionlayer and between the plurality of first vibration modules and the firstprotection layer.
 17. A display apparatus, comprising: a display panelconfigured to display an image and including a first region and a secondregion; a first vibration array in the first region, the first vibrationarray including a plurality of first vibration modules; a secondvibration array in the second region, the second vibration arrayincluding a plurality of second vibration modules; a first pad memberbetween the plurality of first vibration modules in a plan view anddisposed at a rear surface of the first vibration array; a second padmember between the plurality of second vibration modules in the planview and disposed at a rear surface of the second vibration array; and apartition at least partially disposed between the first vibration arrayand the second vibration array in the plan view, wherein the first padmember and the second pad member include a different material from amaterial of the partition.
 18. The display apparatus of claim 17,wherein: the first vibration array comprises a 1-1^(th) vibration arrayand a 1-2^(th) vibration array, and the 1-1^(th) vibration array and the1-2^(th) vibration array are alternately disposed.
 19. The displayapparatus of claim 17, wherein: the second vibration array comprises a2-1^(th) vibration array and a 2-2^(th) vibration array, and the2-1^(th) vibration array and the 2-2^(th) vibration array arealternately disposed.
 20. The display apparatus of claim 17, wherein:the first vibration array comprises a 1-1^(th) vibration array and a1-2^(th) vibration array, the second vibration array comprises a2-1^(th) vibration array and a 2-2^(th) vibration array, and the1-2^(th) vibration array and the 2-2^(th) vibration array are disposedbetween the 1-1^(th) vibration array and the 2-1^(th) vibration array.21. The display apparatus of claim 17, wherein: the first vibrationarray comprises a 1-1^(th) vibration array and a 1-2^(th) vibrationarray, and the 1-1^(th) vibration array and the 1-2^(th) vibration arrayare disposed in a lengthwise direction of the display panel.
 22. Thedisplay apparatus of claim 17, wherein: the first vibration arraycomprises a 1-1^(th) vibration array and a 1-2^(th) vibration array, thesecond vibration array comprises a 2-1^(th) vibration array and a2-2^(th) vibration array, the 1-1^(th) vibration array and the 1-2^(th)vibration array are disposed in a lengthwise direction of the displaypanel, and the 2-1^(th) vibration array and the 2-2^(th) vibration arrayare disposed in the lengthwise direction of the display panel.
 23. Thedisplay apparatus of claim 17, wherein: the first vibration arraycomprises a 1-1^(th) vibration array and a 1-2^(th) vibration array, the1-1^(th) vibration array comprises the plurality of first vibrationmodules, the 1-2^(th) vibration array comprises a plurality of thirdvibration modules, and each of the plurality of first vibration modulesand the plurality of third vibration modules comprises one compositeincluding a plurality of first portions and a plurality of secondportions between the plurality of first portions.
 24. The displayapparatus of claim 23, wherein an arrangement direction of the pluralityof first portions and an arrangement direction of the plurality ofsecond portions in the plurality of first vibration modules differ froman arrangement direction of the plurality of first portions and anarrangement direction of the plurality of second portions in theplurality of third vibration modules.
 25. The display apparatus of claim23, wherein, in each of the plurality of first vibration modules and theplurality of third vibration modules, an arrangement direction of theplurality of first portions and an arrangement direction of theplurality of second portions are the same as a widthwise direction or alengthwise direction of the display panel.
 26. The display apparatus ofclaim 23, wherein each of the plurality of first portions has a linepattern having a predetermined first width, and each of the plurality ofsecond portions has a line pattern having a predetermined second width,the first width being equal to or different from the second width. 27.The display apparatus of claim 23, wherein each of the plurality ofsecond portions has a modulus and viscoelasticity that are lower thanthose of each of the plurality of first portions.
 28. The displayapparatus of claim 27, wherein each of the plurality of second portionsincludes a material having a loss coefficient of 0.01 to about 1.0 and amodulus of 1 to 10 GPa.
 29. The display apparatus of claim 23, wherein awidth of the plurality of second portions progressively decreases in adirection from a center portion to both peripheries of the firstvibration array or the second vibration array.
 30. The display apparatusof claim 17, wherein: the second vibration array comprises a 2-1^(th)vibration array and a 2-2^(th) vibration array, the 2-1^(th) vibrationarray comprises the plurality of second vibration modules, the 2-2^(th)vibration array comprises a plurality of fourth vibration modules, andeach of the plurality of second vibration modules and the plurality offourth vibration modules comprises one composite including a pluralityof first portions and a plurality of second portions between theplurality of first portions.
 31. The display apparatus of claim 30,wherein an arrangement direction of the plurality of first portions andan arrangement direction of the plurality of second portions in theplurality of second vibration modules differ from an arrangementdirection of the plurality of first portions and an arrangementdirection of the plurality of second portions in the plurality of fourthvibration modules.
 32. The display apparatus of claim 30, wherein, ineach of the plurality of second vibration modules and the plurality offourth vibration modules, an arrangement direction of the plurality offirst portions and an arrangement direction of the plurality of secondportions are the same as a widthwise direction or a lengthwise directionof the display panel.
 33. The display apparatus of claim 17, wherein thepartition includes: a first partition member surrounding the firstvibration array and the first pad member in the plan view; and a secondpartition member surrounding the second vibration array and the secondpad member in the plan view.
 34. The display apparatus of claim 17,wherein the partition includes: a first partition member surrounding thefirst vibration array and the first pad member in the plan view; asecond partition member surrounding the second vibration array and thesecond pad member in the plan view; and a third partition membersurrounding the first partition member and the second partition member.35. The display apparatus of claim 17, wherein the partition includes: afirst partition member surrounding the first vibration array and thefirst pad member in the plan view; a second partition member surroundingthe second vibration array and the second pad member in the plan view;and one or more fourth partition members between the first region andthe second region.
 36. The display apparatus of claim 17, wherein thepartition includes: a first partition member surrounding the firstvibration array and the first pad member in the plan view; a secondpartition member surrounding the second vibration array and the secondpad member in the plan view; a third partition member surrounding thefirst partition member and the second partition member; and one or morefourth partition members between the first region and the second region.37. The display apparatus of claim 17, wherein each of the first padmember and the second pad member comprises an adhesive.
 38. The displayapparatus of claim 17, wherein the first pad member and the second padmember comprise the same material as a material of one of the pluralityof first vibration modules and the plurality of second vibrationmodules.
 39. The display apparatus of claim 17, wherein the vibrationarray includes: a first protection layer on the plurality of vibrationmodules; a second protection layer under the plurality of vibrationmodules; and a connection member between the first protection layer andthe second protection layer and between the first protection layer andthe plurality of vibration modules.
 40. A display apparatus, comprising:a display panel configured to display an image and including a firstregion and a second region; a first vibration array in the first region,the first vibration array including a plurality of first vibrationmodules; a second vibration array in the second region, the secondvibration array including a plurality of second vibration modules; afirst pad member between the plurality of first vibration modules in aplan view and disposed at a rear surface of the first vibration array;and a second pad member between the plurality of second vibrationmodules in the plan view and disposed at a rear surface of the secondvibration array, wherein each of the plurality of first vibrationmodules and the plurality of second vibration modules comprises onecomposite including a plurality of first portions and a plurality ofsecond portions between the plurality of first portions, wherein anarrangement direction of the plurality of first portions and anarrangement direction of the plurality of second portions in theplurality of first vibration modules differ from an arrangementdirection of the plurality of first portions and an arrangementdirection of the plurality of second portions in the plurality of secondvibration modules.
 41. The display apparatus of claim 40, wherein thearrangement direction of the plurality of first portions and thearrangement direction of the plurality of second portions in each of theplurality of first vibration modules and the plurality of secondvibration modules are the same as a widthwise direction or a lengthwisedirection of the display panel.
 42. The display apparatus of claim 40,wherein each of the plurality of first vibration modules and theplurality of second vibration modules comprises: a first electrode onthe plurality of first portions and the plurality of second portions;and a second electrode under the plurality of first portions and theplurality of second portions.
 43. The display apparatus of claim 40,wherein each of the plurality of first vibration modules and theplurality of second vibration modules comprises: a first electrode onthe plurality of first portions and the plurality of second portions; asecond electrode under the plurality of first portions and the pluralityof second portions; a first protection layer on the first electrode; anda second protection layer under the second electrode.